Wisdom Tooth Pain Symptoms – What You Should Need To Do?

The wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge in the mouth and they usually make their appearance in our late teens or early twenties. Not all wisdom teeth present with problems but for some people, they can erupt impacted, causing dental complications and on occasion, a dental emergency. Knowing which symptoms to spot can help you to avoid an emergency. Let’s look at the most common wisdom tooth pain symptoms and what you should do.

Wisdom Tooth Pain Symptoms To Look Out For

Not all impacted wisdom teeth are problematic, however, when they cause infection or threaten to damage other teeth, they may present with the following symptoms:

• Swelling or pain around the affected wisdom tooth
• Gums that bleed or feel sensitive and tender
• Pain or swelling in the jaw
• Persistent bad breath even after brushing
• A bad taste in your mouth

If you do experience these symptoms, you should contact your dentist right away. Your dentist will do a physical exam and possibly take an x-ray to see how they are developing. If there is an infection or the wisdom tooth is in an unusual position, your dentist will make a treatment recommendation.

What Complications Can Occur With A Wisdom Tooth?

Sometimes a wisdom tooth only emerges partially, and some of the tooth remains below the gum.

If the wisdom tooth is impacted, it may

• Erupt at an angle towards the back of your mouth
• Erupt at an angle towards a molar
• Stay trapped inside the jaw bone

The risks of these events happening include

• Damage to your other teeth because of crowding or the angle it is growing at
• Dental decay when teeth are awkwardly positioned or grow too close to other teeth
• The formation of a cyst or abscess, which can be a dental emergency and which can put your jaw bone, tooth and nerves at risk
• Development of gum disease

How To Avoid A Dental Emergency? 

Visiting your dentist regularly ensures that a professional keeps a watchful eye on a wisdom tooth as it erupts. Any dental discomfort, swelling of the gums or sensitivity should be reported to your dentist as soon as possible before it turns into a larger problem. When you are around the ages of 17 and 25, your dentist will probably want to do an x-ray to check your wisdom teeth if they have not erupted fully yet. Problems can usually be picked up early on, and if there are issues with the position of your wisdom teeth, your dentist may recommend having them removed while it is more manageable.

Make sure you keep your mouth as clean as possible. Yes, it is difficult to see what’s going on in the back of your mouth, but make sure you are brushing the surface of each tooth and are flossing twice a day too. 

If you have questions about wisdom tooth pain symptoms or any concerns about your wisdom teeth or molars, it’s best to consult a professional before a bigger problem develops. Please contact us for a convenient appointment: (07) 3185 2387.