Wisdom tooth pain is a fairly common complaint and is often the result of these third molars coming in during a person’s late teens or early adulthood. However, it is also common for wisdom teeth to become impacted, meaning there isn’t enough room for them in the mouth so they start coming in crooked and get trapped under the gum or against the neighboring teeth. Impacted teeth don’t always cause pain, but if pain does occur, it may be the sign of a problem that needs a dentist‘s attention.

If you have wisdom tooth pain, the first thing you should do is call the dentist. Pain in your wisdom teeth may be caused by infection. This is especially true with partially erupted wisdom teeth, i.e. wisdom teeth that are poking out of your gums part of the way but haven’t actually come in. Because they are exposed to the environment of your mouth, bacteria can get in and around your wisdom teeth, including under the gums where you can’t brush or floss away debris and plaque. The result can be an abscess, which is swelling and pain caused by infection. If this happens, your wisdom teeth need to be extracted as soon as possible.

We happily see emergency patients, but in case you can’t get in to see us right away, there are a few things you can do to reduce discomfort at home. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can relieve minor or moderate pain temporarily, in addition to reducing swelling and inflammation. You can make a pain relieving rinse by dissolving salt in warm water and swishing in your mouth for 30 seconds. You can also find topical pain relievers at the drug store that can provide temporary relief, such as gels that contain the numbing agent benzocaine.

Ultimately, if you’re experiencing wisdom tooth pain, you probably need to have your wisdom tooth extracted. At the first sign of a problem, be sure to contact us as soon as possible so we can start a treatment plan to make sure we keep your smile healthy.

Generally speaking, there are two types of wisdom tooth pain: the kind that indicates a problem and the kind that’s just part of growing up.

In case you don’t know, wisdom teeth are an additional set of adult molars that typically start coming in between ages 17 and 21. Most children finish getting their adult teeth at around age 12, so wisdom teeth get their name because they appear a few years later, when a person is older and wiser. However, because they come in so much later when most of the adult teeth are already in place, wisdom teeth can often cause problems.

The normal process of tooth eruption can cause wisdom tooth pain. Just like all the other teeth, wisdom teeth need to push up through the gums in order to come in, which can cause occasional aches and soreness. This pain should subside once the tooth has come in all the way, but in the meantime it can be alleviated with topical pain relieving medications, such as Orajel.

However, in a good amount of the population, wisdom teeth do not emerge properly. The teeth can come in a bad angle, get jammed up against the existing molars, and get stuck beneath the surface of the gums. This is what dentists call impacted wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth pain is usually an ache that comes and goes over time. It can be irritating and uncomfortable, and often the only long-term solution is to have the impacted teeth extracted. It’s important to note that while extractions are referred to as oral surgery, they are a very routine procedure that usually only requires a day or two of recovery time.

Another cause of wisdom tooth pain is an abscess. This often happens when debris or bacteria get caught in the pockets or crevices caused by a partially erupted wisdom tooth (i.e. a tooth that has only come in part way through the gums). Trapped debris causes and infection, which leads to pain and swelling in the wisdom tooth area. In these cases, the wisdom tooth needs to be removed as soon as possible.

If you have any wisdom teeth pain, it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist about it right away.

Wisdom teeth are the name for your third permanent molars, which typically appear from age 17-25. It is thought the name “wisdom teeth” comes from the fact that they appear long after all your other permanent teeth, when you a much older & wiser. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth (upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right). If your dentist has been doing updated x-rays of your mouth every year, they might be able to see where your wisdom teeth are going to come in, but there’s no guarantee on how wisdom teeth will behave.

In some cases, wisdom teeth come in (or erupt, as we dentists say) normally & function just like your other molars. In many other cases, however, wisdom teeth are impacted. Impacted means the teeth are stuck in the bone under your gums. Either there isn’t enough room for them to come in all the way, or they’re coming in at such a strange angle that it’s impossible for them to emerge from your gums.

Not all impacted wisdom teeth will cause problems, but wisdom teeth removal is still recommended for many patients, even when they are not experiencing any negative symptoms. The reason for this is wisdom teeth removal is much easier & less complicated the younger the tooth is. Younger wisdom teeth have less developed roots & are less likely to be near nerves. Also, younger people tend to heal better, so having wisdom teeth removed in the late teens or early twenties often provides for better results. As the wisdom teeth get older & get integrated into the bone of your jaw, they become harder to remove.

Some patients start experiencing pain & swelling soon after their wisdom teeth appear. In other cases, the wisdom teeth can come in only partially, creating an optimal place for bacteria & infection to grow between the partially exposed gum & other teeth. This infection is called pericornitis. In these situations, emergency wisdom teeth removal is usually recommended to relieve pain & prevent further complications. If you are in your late teens or twenties & are experiencing a toothache or jaw pain, visit the dentist to see if it could be related to your wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth removal is performed either by your dentist or an oral surgeon. Some dental clinics have an oral surgeon on staff, but others may require you to get a referral to a separate oral surgeon’s office. If your dentist doesn’t perform oral surgeries, they usually have a trusted local oral surgeon that they work with who they will refer you to.

Removing wisdom teeth is a fairly straightforward procedure. If your wisdom tooth has emerged from the gum normally (erupted), it will be “pulled” like any other tooth. If it is impacted, the dentist or oral surgeon may have to make an incision in the gum to access the tooth in the bone. The complexity of removing an impacted is particular to each patient’s situation. You dentist or oral surgeon will also help determine the level of sedation needed to keep you comfortable.

After wisdom teeth removal surgery, most patients experience some pain & swelling for several days. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you post-operative instructions, like taking Tylenol or using ice packs, to help you heal & stay comfortable. You may also get a prescription for a stronger painkiller if necessary. You will also get recommendations on the types of soft foods you can eat until you’ve healed enough to chew again.

Did you know that not everyone develops wisdom teeth? In fact, the incidence of wisdom teeth in those with Tasmanian Aboriginal ancestry is practically zero. By contrast, nearly 100% of indigenous Mexicans have wisdom teeth.