Antiseptic
lavage is a means of washing, especially of a hollow organ, such as the stomach or
lower bowel, with repeated injections of warm water mixed with an
antiseptic
An antiseptic (from Greek ἀντί ''anti'', "against" and σηπτικός ''sēptikos'', "putrefactive") is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putre ...
or
antifungal solution. Antiseptic lavages are commonly used as a treatment to
pericoronitis
Pericoronitis is inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth, including the gingiva (gums) and the dental follicle. The soft tissue covering a partially erupted tooth is known as an ''operculum'', an ar ...
of
wisdom teeth
A third molar, commonly called wisdom tooth, is one of the three molars per quadrant of the human dentition. It is the most posterior of the three. The age at which wisdom teeth come through ( erupt) is variable, but this generally occurs betw ...
.
Applying antibacterial solutions to wash out wounds may reduce infection rates compared with non-antibacterial products.
Pumping the washing solution into the wound may reduce infections compared with other methods of washing out.
References
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Medical treatments