Wisdom teeth are the naughty boys of dentistry.
And believe me? They’ve earned it.
When they’re good, they’re just some extra teeth dozing away at the back of your mouth. But when they’re not. Oh boy. They cause pain, swelling, and sometimes, an all-out infection that would make you wish teeth could retire early.
If you live in Deira and you suspect something’s amiss, don’t wait it out. Your best dentist in Deira will advise you—wisdom tooth infections become much worse over time. And trust me, the symptoms may not be easy to miss.
So what do you look for when you wonder whether your wisdom tooth is infected? Let’s dissect.
Signs that Your Wisdom Tooth May Be Infected
1. Pain That Won’t Let Up
Not all pain within your teeth is created equal.
A bit of tenderness after consuming something cold? That could be sensitivity.
But with an infection of a wisdom tooth, the pain is more internal—like it’s coming from inside your jaw.
You might sense it when you’re chewing. Or just hanging out.
It might radiate to your ear, throat, or even the side of your face.
If the pain is:
- Throbbing
- Getting worse over time
- Or waking you up at night
…it’s a sure sign you need to get it looked at—preferably by the best dentist Deira has to offer before complications arise.
2. Swelling in Your Gums or Jaw
Your jawline one day is great.
Next, you resemble someone who just went through a round of boxing that you had no idea about.
Infections cause swelling. That’s your body’s method of disabling bacteria. But within your mouth, swelling can be a bad thing because it has nowhere to escape.
With a wisdom tooth infection, swelling can:
- Be limited to the gum near the tooth
- Spread to your cheek or jaw
- Make it hard to open your mouth fully
Sometimes, you’ll notice redness along with swelling. That’s usually a double sign—your gums are inflamed, and bacteria might already be having a party back there.
3. Bad Breath That Doesn’t Go Away
We all have bad breath after garlic bread or coffee.
But when your mouth still smells after you brush, floss, and rinse? That’s a different situation.
When bacteria are trapped in the area of a partially erupted wisdom tooth, they have the ability to produce an unpleasant odor. You can also have:
A bad taste in your mouth
- Food is perpetually getting stuck around the tooth
- A sticky or slimy feeling around the gums
This is not something to be fixed using mouthwash. The only option is addressing the infection in question. And yes, the best dentist in Deira will know better than anyone how to clean and treat it.
4. Difficulty Opening Your Mouth
Try to open your mouth as wide as possible.
Does it hurt? Or does it feel tight, like your jaw just refuses to cooperate?
This is what’s known as trismus, and it’s normal when an infection in a wisdom tooth spreads to the surrounding tissues. It can make:
- Eating painful
- Speaking stiff
- Even yawning is a troublesome task
Ignoring this symptom will only make things worse. The infection can spread further into your jaw or neck muscles.
5. Fever or General Tiredness
A wisdom tooth infection isn’t a local problem—it can trigger a body-wide response.
When bacteria spread, your body fights back with its immune system, and that can cause:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Body aches
If you’re tired and notice pain or swelling in your mouth, don’t hesitate. Maybe the infection is progressing, and that’s an emergency.
6. Pus or Discharge Around the Tooth
This is one of the more obvious—and disgusting—signs.
If you see or taste pus near your wisdom tooth, it means your body is fighting off an infection.
You might see:
- Yellow or white spit in the gums
- A salty or metallic taste in your mouth
- Gums that bleed when brushed
By this point, the infection is not going to fix itself. You’re going to need a professional teeth cleaning, possible antibiotics, and perhaps even extraction—something the best dentist in Deira can guide you through.
7. Pain That Spreads Beyond the Tooth
One of the stealthy things about wisdom tooth infections is how they creep up on you.
The pain doesn’t stay in one location.
You might have it:
- In your ear
- Along your jawline
- In your neck
- Or even in your head as a dull headache
This is because the nerves within the jaw are interconnected, and therefore the pain travels around. In case you experience the notion that you have multiple problems simultaneously, it could still be one infected wisdom tooth.
Why Wisdom Tooth Infections Happen
Wisdom teeth have a high tendency to get infected because of:
- They’re way in the back of your mouth, so cleaning can be tough
- They come out at weird angles, which creates room for bacteria to proliferate
- They have the tendency to not erupt at all, leaving your gum half open
Negative dental habits, weakened immunity, and even your genetics can predispose you.
What to Do if You Have an Infected Tooth
The worst thing you can possibly do? Wait.
Infection can travel quickly to other parts of your body, including your throat and bloodstream.
Here’s what you need to do:
Call your dentist immediately—preferably the best dentist in Deira if you’re there.
Rinse your mouth out using warm salt water to reduce bacteria.
Don’t chew on the painful side.
Use over-the-counter painkillers if needed (but not long-term).
How a Dentist Will Treat It
Your dentist will, depending on how bad it is:
- Thoroughly clean the area out
- Prescribe some antibiotics
- Drain any pus buildup
Recommend extraction if the tooth is severely impacted or fractured
A good dentist will not just fix the current infections—s/he’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
How to Prevent Wisdom Tooth Infections
Even in some cases can’t be helped, but you can lower your chances by:
- Brushing at least twice a day, paying a little extra attention to the back teeth
- Flossing around your wisdom teeth gently
- Getting visited by your dentist regularly
- Having partially erupted wisdom teeth monitored closely
If your dentist thinks that they might be causing issues later on, early removal can save you a lot of pain later.
Wisdom tooth infections are not to be ignored
They start quietly but can grow into serious cases if ignored.
If you have:
- Pain that recurs
- Swelling
- Bad breath or taste
- Fever or fatigue
…it’s time to get help. And if you’re in Deira, finding the best dentist in Deira could be the difference between quick relief and weeks of discomfort.
Your teeth are important. So is your comfort. Don’t wait for the pain to get unbearable—take action while it’s still manageable.