Your wisdom teeth usually start to erupt that is enter your mouth during late adolescence. Sometimes, there's not enough room for them, and they come in partially or not at all. This condition can lead to pericoronitis, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the tooth. When only part of the tooth has erupted into the mouth, it can create a flap of gum tissue that easily holds food particles and debris and is a hotbed for bacteria. Pericoronitis also can occur around a wisdom tooth that has not erupted at all and is still under the gums.
Prevention :
You can help to prevent pericoronitis by practicing good oral hygiene on any erupting wisdom tooth to make sure that food particles and bacteria do not accumulate under the gums. However, if these steps do not work and pericoronitis returns, it may be necessary to have the overlying flap of gum tissue removed. In some cases, the wisdom tooth may need to be extracted. |
