How to recognise acute inflammation of the wisdom tooth?

Wisdom teeth can cause discomfort even before they have fully erupted. Acute inflammation around the eighth tooth (dentitio difficilis) is a painful condition that requires prompt dental intervention.

Warning signs you should not ignore:

• Throbbing and shooting pain – The pain is not dull, but sharp, throbbing and often shoots into the ear, temple or neck.
• Swelling and redness of the gums – The gums around the tooth are red, swollen and sensitive to touch. Sometimes the swelling can spread to the face.
• Limited mouth opening (trismus) – The inflammation can spread to the chewing muscles, causing painful spasms.
• Elevated temperature and general malaise – If fever or chills are added, the inflammation is already affecting the entire body.
• Swollen glands – You may feel painful enlarged lymph nodes under the lower jaw or on the neck.
• Bad breath – The site of inflammation often produces pus, which causes an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Home rinses with chamomile or cooling may bring temporary relief, but they will not solve the problem. At The Clinic, they will examine you, relieve the acute pain and suggest a solution – whether it be rinsing, prescribing antibiotics or planning an extraction once the acute phase has subsided.