I have a small swollen tag behind my lower right wisdom tooth. I wouldn't call i a lump as it's almost like a little tag folded over. It starts on the gumline and folds to just above the tooth. It's painful and whitish in color. I started getting it within a day of my new frequent flossing rountine and am assuming that going from never flossing to this has irritated my gums. Is this possible? I'm in the States right now and can't afford to see an american dentist unless I really have too. They cost a small fortune and I'm still paying the $300 bill from my checkup a few weeks ago.
Any advice would be great!

Hello IrishGirl1974

Sometimes the gum around the wisdom teeth develops a flap over the back part of the tooth, an operculum .

Food easily accumulates under the flap, and it’s common for that area to become infected.

Flossing under it could have irritated the gum. I would not advise doing this, rather rinse gently with warm salt water or use a single-tufted brush gently to cleanse the tooth in the area of the flap of gum. A clenching habit or nail-biting habit could inadvertently result in your biting onto this flap of gum making it sore and swollen, too.

Pain, difficulty opening the mouth, bad breath, in addition to swelling and sensitivity in that area are all symptoms of the infection of the gum around the wisdom tooth, pericoronitis. Treatment of pericoronitis may include cleaning the area thoroughly, antibiotics to control the infection, as well as extraction of the tooth to prevent reoccurrence.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

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