When the wisdom teeth are erupting, usually during the late adolescence or early 20s, many problems can occur inside the mouth. When the tooth is not yet fully erupted, pericoronitis  can occur.

Pericoronitis is one of the most common problems related to wisdom teeth. When the tooth is pushing up through the gum, it takes a while. This means there is a flap of gum tissue covering the tooth can easily hold food particles and plaque. “As the hygiene of the area is not very easy to maintain, the presence of food waste can be constant and plaque bacteria will grow, causing inflammation and infection in the area”, explains Dr. Rozelle Owens. Symptoms range from medium or excessive pain and swelling to difficulty opening the mouth, sore throat, and bad breath. In more severe cases, symptoms may also include fever, earache and difficulty breathing! Moreover, as this area will be swollen, it is quite possible that the opposite tooth above the area exacerbates the problem by biting down on the swollen gum causing more swelling and pain. Ouch! Read more