What is Pericoronitis?
A dental disorder in which gum tissue becomes swollen and infected around the wisdom teeth is known as pericoronitis. Wisdom teeth are the third and final sets of molars which mostly grows when a person is in their late teen or early twenties.
What are the Causes Pericoronitis?
When the wisdom teeth erupt partially breaking through the gum, pericoronitis occurs. This opening allows bacteria to enter the tooth and leads to an infection. In many cases, food or plaque can get stuck underneath a flap of gum around the tooth. When the food particles stick around they can irritate the gum and lead to pericoronitis. When pericoronitis takes a serious shape, it may cause swelling and infection which may extend beyond the jaw to the cheeks and neck.
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Prevention for Perocoronitis
Pericoronitis can be prevented. Maintain good oral hygiene and ensure that food particles and bacteria do not accumulate under the gums in erupting wisdom tooth. If this does not prevent pericoronitis, the overlying flap of gum tissue will have to be removed or in some cases, the wisdom tooth will have to be extracted.
What are the Symptoms Perocoronitis?
Symptoms of perocoronitis can be:
- Pain
- Infection
- Gum swelling
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Difficulty in opening mouth
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Read more on Pericoronitis Prevention.