The hot weather poses a significant threat to oral health.

In the scorching summer, wisdom tooth pericoronitis has become an indescribable pain for many people.

So here’s the problem——

What is wisdom tooth pericoronitis?

Why is there a high incidence in summer?

What adverse consequences will it bring?

How to effectively prevent it?

Don’t worry, let’s learn about them one by one today.

What is wisdom tooth pericoronitis?

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to sprout in the oral cavity.

Periapical periodontitis of wisdom teeth, as the name suggests, refers to inflammation of the soft tissue around the crown of the third molar (i.e. wisdom teeth) caused by incomplete or obstructed eruption during the eruption process.

Its clinical manifestations are diverse, mainly manifested as redness, swelling, and pain of the gums around wisdom teeth, and in severe cases, even accompanied by symptoms such as limited mouth opening, bad breath, and thickened tongue coating.

When inflammation further develops, it may also form an abscess and spread to surrounding tissues, causing more serious complications.

Why is there a high incidence in summer?

Dietary factors

The weather is hot, and people prefer stimulating foods such as cold drinks, ice cream, and barbecue. These foods not only easily damage the oral mucosa, but also lead to food residues lingering around wisdom teeth.

In addition, with the general decrease in appetite during summer, oral hygiene may be neglected, which exacerbates the occurrence of wisdom tooth pericoronitis.

Decreased immunity

High temperatures can easily cause fatigue and lack of sleep in the human body, thereby reducing the body’s immune system.

When the body’s resistance decreases, bacteria in the mouth are more likely to take advantage and cause oral diseases such as wisdom tooth periodontitis.

What are the consequences of wisdom tooth pericoronitis?

Local symptoms

In the early stage of wisdom tooth periodontitis, patients may only feel slight discomfort or pain in the gums around their wisdom teeth. But as the condition progresses, the pain gradually intensifies and may be accompanied by symptoms such as limited mouth opening and bad breath.

In severe cases, local abscesses may form and spread forward or backward along the outer oblique line of the mandible, causing infection in adjacent spaces.

Systemic symptoms

When wisdom tooth pericoronitis develops to a certain extent, it may also cause systemic symptoms such as chills, fever, general discomfort, decreased appetite, etc.

In addition, inflammation may also cause abnormal blood routine manifestations such as increased total white blood cell count and increased proportion of neutrophils.

Long term impact

If left untreated, wisdom tooth pericoronitis not only affects the patient’s daily life and work, but may also lead to more serious complications.

For example——

Inflammation may spread along the mandible into the skull, causing serious diseases such as encephalitis;

Pus may rupture from the face, forming a fistula and affecting facial aesthetics;

In addition, wisdom tooth pericoronitis may also lead to long-term problems such as misaligned teeth and adjacent tooth decay.

How to prevent it?

Maintain oral hygiene

Daily brushing: Brush your teeth in the morning and evening, rinse your mouth after meals, and keep your mouth clean. When brushing teeth, it is recommended to use a suitable soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, brush your teeth scientifically, and thoroughly clean your teeth and gums.

Using dental floss: Dental floss can remove food residue and plaque between teeth, and is an important tool for preventing wisdom tooth periodontitis. It is recommended to use dental floss at least once a day.

Regular dental cleaning: Conduct at least one oral examination and cleaning every year to remove tartar and plaque and maintain oral health.

balanced diet

Eat more fruits and vegetables: Vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, which help enhance the body’s resistance and reduce the risk of oral infections.

Eat less sweets: Sweets are a breeding ground for bacterial growth, so it is advisable to reduce the intake of sweets as much as possible, especially avoid eating candies, cookies, and other sweets before going to bed at night.

develop immunity from disease

Get enough sleep, exercise appropriately, maintain a happy mood, and improve the body’s resistance.

early intervention

Regular check ups: Regularly go to a professional dental hospital for examination. If wisdom teeth are found to be obstructed or incomplete, seek medical treatment promptly.

Removal of obstructed wisdom teeth: For obstructed wisdom teeth that are frequently inflamed or unable to sprout normally, they should be removed in a timely manner to prevent future problems.