If you have been feeling sick recently, experiencing headaches, bouts of nausea, and dizziness at the same time as your wisdom teeth are beginning to erupt, then your wisdom teeth may be making you ill. It isn't the teeth themselves that cause illness. Rather, it is the way in which they erupt—or partially erupt.
Some people have no problem with their wisdom teeth. Others, however, should have them removed. If your gums are sore and swollen, and you are feeling the worse for wear, the gum tissue surrounding your wisdom teeth has become infected. You need to see your dentist immediately, as the infection will only worsen if it's left untreated.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Cause Infection
In the distant past, when human beings dined on food that was much tougher than that of the modern diet, wisdom teeth were an essential dental tool. But along with wisdom teeth, humans also had broader jaws and wider dental arches. Because wisdom teeth, also referred to as third molars, are larger than your other teeth, they need more room to erupt. When that room isn't available, wisdom teeth become impacted.
Impacted basically means blocked. The lack of room in your jaw causes wisdom teeth to either become lodged in the jawbone, lodged in your gum, or to erupt horizontally, diagonally or against the surrounding teeth. When this happens, the gum tissue surrounding and covering the partially erupted wisdom teeth traps food debris and causes a build-up of bacteria. This leads to infection.
The Infection Can Spread If Left Untreated
You need to get to a dentist immediately if your wisdom teeth have become infected. Otherwise, the infection will likely spread. Think of the infection and its associated symptoms as the first warning sign that you need dental treatment. If you ignore this warning, then the following dental issues are likely to arise:
- Decay: The buildup of bacteria and food debris around your wisdom teeth and the adjacent teeth will accelerate tooth decay.
- Cyst formation: A pus-filled cyst will form under the infected gum tissue, and this could cause the surrounding bone to also become damaged.
- Gum Disease: The infection may spread to the surrounding gum tissue, causing inflammation and irritation.
- Gum Recession: Infected gum tissue pulls away from teeth, causing them to loosen and leaving them at the mercy of tooth decay.
As you can see, infection is just the beginning. Heed the warning that your mouth is giving you and seek the help of an emergency dentist.
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