Rotten Wisdom Tooth: 2 Professional Treatment Options

Rotten wisdom tooth, we often hear about the discomfort during their emergence. Yet, less commonly known, these teeth can become troublesome when decayed. This article focuses on rotten wisdom teeth, discussing their symptoms, remedies, and care.

Understanding Rotten Wisdom Tooth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear in the mouth. This happens between the ages of 17 and 23, when all the other teeth have erupted and the space left is generally reduced. Wisdom teeth often cause pain as they erupt, due to a lack of space or damage to neighboring structures. However, pain can also be caused by an infected or rotten wisdom tooth. Due to the very posterior location of the tooth, the necessary oral hygiene is often not carried out since, on many occasions, people do not notice when these teeth appear and are unaware of their existence.

Why do Wisdom Teeth Rotten?

Teeth are damaged when they are attacked by decay. Caries are the formation of holes in the teeth, caused by the action of bacteria that feed on food remains. If these holes reach the nerve inside the tooth, severe pain occurs, and there is risk of developing a severe infection. Wisdom teeth can be particularly susceptible to decay when they are located in the very posterior area of the mouth, due to difficult access for proper oral hygiene.

Signs and Symptoms

When teeth are deeply decayed, symptoms may or may not be present. Sometimes, because caries occur slowly and progressively, the nerve of the tooth dies silently, without generating any symptoms for a long time, that is, until a severe infection occurs. Other times, there is tenderness and severe pain.

Some signs and symptoms of a rotten wisdom tooth are: 

• Tooth sensitivity with hot or cold foods.

• Intense and spontaneous dental pain.

• Pain when biting or chewing.

• The discomfort of the tongue due to a hole in the wisdom tooth.

• Bad breath.

• Swelling and redness of the cheeks.

• In very advanced infections, it could present:

• Fever.

• Sore throat.

• Difficulty opening the mouth.

• Pain when swallowing food or saliva.

• General discomfort.

• Overall weakness.

Home Remedies for a Rotten Wisdom Tooth

Pain is a protective mechanism through which the body alerts us to damage or disease. Pain from a rotten wisdom tooth is evidence of advanced caries, a problem that requires timely dental treatment. In other words, there are no home remedies that definitively solve the pain caused by a rotten tooth, and avoiding a visit to the dentist will only make the problem grow worse. The following tips can help manage the pain while you make an appointment with your dentist: 

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers.

• Put clove oil on the tooth.

• Make rinses with infusions of mint tea.

• Avoid very cold or very hot foods.

• Sleep with your head elevated using 2-3 pillows.

Professional treatment options

Treatment options for a rotten wisdom tooth vary according to the progress of the disease, the presence of infection, and the degree of tooth destruction. The available options are:

1. Root canal treatment:

Commonly, when discussing a compromised wisdom tooth, the immediate thought is its extraction. Nevertheless, for those who have already experienced tooth loss, considering the preservation of a wisdom tooth could offer advantages. By means of endodontic surgery, the nerve within the tooth is eliminated to alleviate discomfort, and a substance resembling rubber is employed to occupy the resulting space. This approach enables the retention of a tooth that will no longer be sensitive. However, it’s essential to note that carrying out endodontic procedures on wisdom teeth is frequently intricate due to their position at the back of the mouth and their internal configuration, which tends to be remarkably diverse and unpredictable

2. Tooth extraction:

There are several situations in which the extraction of a rotten wisdom tooth is indicated:

• When the wisdom tooth has no space to emerge.

• When the wisdom tooth is not fulfilling any function, that is, it does not have a partner in the opposite jaw that allows it to chew.

• When most of the tooth has been destroyed by caries and it is not possible to rebuild it.

• When its location or the shape of the roots does not allow a good root canal treatment.

In the case where a decayed wisdom tooth has become infected to the extent of triggering a severe infection or abscess, it is probable that along with the process of a root canal treatment or extraction of the tooth, there might be a requirement for pus drainage and administration of antibiotics. This is particularly relevant within the context of the tooth extraction healing process.

How to Prevent Cavities in Rotten Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth can be easily damaged if proper oral hygiene is not performed. The best way to prevent cavities in wisdom teeth is to brush your teeth 3 times a day with fluoride toothpaste, making sure to clean every posterior tooth. Going to the dentist every 6 months for a routine check-up will help detect the presence of wisdom teeth and their related problems.

When to See a Dentist?

If you experience sensitivity, severe dental pain, or any sign of infection such as those already mentioned, do not hesitate to see your trusted dentist soon. Remember that home remedies only help control pain but do not solve the cause, so a severe infection could occur.