It's possible for your gums to become red, tender, and swollen even with the best oral care in place for your teeth. Usually, the issue may be caused by sprouting of one or more hind molars, commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. 

The eruption of these teeth is usually far from trouble-free. At some point, your gums may even start bleeding. If you're experiencing complications with your wisdom teeth, here's a rundown of what a periodontist can help you with.

Infections affecting wisdom teeth. 

Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth helps remove disease-causing bacteria from your mouth. However, wisdom teeth can cause crowding of molar teeth, making it difficult to brush and floss properly. This can lead to a buildup of plaque, which can harden to form tartar. 

Plaque and tartar can cause a bacterial infection of the gum lines, which can lead to soreness of the gums, bleeding gums, and difficulty in chewing food. 

A periodontist can scrape away the disease-causing buildup and administer treatment to keep periodontal disease at bay. Where infection involving wisdom teeth has already occurred, the impacted teeth may have to be removed to maintain good periodontal health.

Dry socket exposure after wisdom tooth removal.

After the removal of the wisdom teeth, a blood clot is usually formed to stop further bleeding on the gums, kick-starting the healing process. After some time, the clot will usually form a scab to further promote the healing process. However, this doesn't always happen. 

In some cases, the clot may clear out, leaving the dry sockets or jaw bone exposed. This can result in severe tooth pain and inflammation of the gums. If you start experiencing these symptoms after having your wisdom teeth removed, you should see a periodontist for pain alleviation and treatment.

Nerve injury following wisdom tooth extraction.

Although quite rare, nerve damage is also a risk associated with the removal of wisdom teeth. Like other periodontal problems, it is best addressed sooner rather than later. 

Nerve damage is usually accompanied by pain and numbness in the teeth, chin, lower lip, and tongue. If you suspect nerve damage following the removal of your wisdom tooth, it is best to see a periodontist. The problem may become permanent if not addressed immediately.

Complications with wisdom teeth should never be taken lightly. While over-the-counter pain relievers and home-based care can provide temporary relief, the problems won't end unless they're addressed properly. Seek out a periodontist near you if you have or suspect any problems with your wisdom teeth. Acting early will reduce the likelihood of other problems arising later on.