Why does wisdom tooth pain come and go

Wisdom teeth can result in a variety of different experiences for people. For some, wisdom teeth erupt and do not need to be removed. However, roughly 85% of people need to remove their wisdom teeth. They often emerge between the ages of 17 to 25. Wisdom teeth pain can impact your daily life making it difficult to eat and speak. Below you will find the common causes of wisdom teeth pain.

Wisdom tooth pain can be excruciating for some. It can develop slowly and gradually or suddenly. For those whose wisdom teeth come in slowly the pain may not be as intense. However, those whose wisdom teeth seem to erupt overnight can have more sudden and sharp pain. Below are some of the common causes of wisdom teeth pain.

Overcrowding:

You may experience pain due to overcrowding once your wisdom teeth erupt. Wisdom teeth can erupt and push forward the rest of your teeth. This pressure can result in serious pain and discomfort.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth:

Impacted wisdom teeth get stuck under the surface of your gums. When a wisdom tooth gets stuck under the surface of your gum it can grow at a crooked angle. This can cause pain and other complications.

Infection:

An infection can occur if you have impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth put too much pressure on your jaw and other teeth which can result in infection, numbness, and pain. If impacted wisdom teeth are left untreated, serious issues can arise.

Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom tooth pain can feel similar to other types of tooth pain so it’s important to understand the slight differences. Pain caused by wisdom teeth often comes from the back of your mouth (behind your molars). The pain may be accompanied by redness, inflammation, and is often tender to the touch. It’s helpful to look into a mirror to determine if you can see your wisdom teeth poking out of your gums. While some may experience all of these symptoms, others may experience little to no pain. If you experience the pain or think that your wisdom teeth may have come in it’s important to contact a dental professional.

Addressing Wisdom Tooth Pain

If you experience any of the symptoms associated with wisdom teeth, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a family dentist in Chino Hills. A skilled dentist can assess your oral health and determine the cause of your oral pain. This can often be done by evaluating your mouth and taking X-rays. If the cause of your oral pain is your wisdom teeth, you’ll likely need wisdom tooth extraction in Chino Hills. It’s important to get your wisdom teeth removed promptly due to the risk of complications.

Short-Term Remedies for Wisdom Tooth Pain

If your dentist can get you in for wisdom tooth removal right away it’s important to manage your pain in the meantime. However, these remedies should not be used in lieu of wisdom tooth removal. Still, consider the following short-term remedies for wisdom tooth pain.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication:

For minor pain relief, over-the-counter pain medications can help. Still, if you are in excruciating pain that impedes your daily life, talk with your dental and medical providers to discuss other pain management options.

Ice Chips:

Ice chips can help reduce swelling and numb the area around your wisdom teeth. Use small ice chips and apply them near your wisdom tooth pain.

Salt Water Rinse:

This can help reduce your pain and reduce the risk for infection. Mix 8 ounces of water with 2 teaspoons of salt and shake the mixture. Rinse and gargle the mixture a few times a day for the best benefits.

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and final set of teeth to form, typically during your adult life. These teeth are situated right at the back of your jaw and individuals commonly have four wisdom teeth in total – two on the top jaw and two more on the bottom.

They don’t start forming until you are about seven or eight, unlike the other adult teeth that grow and erupt during your childhood years. Wisdom teeth typically erupt at the age of 18 and no later than 30 years of age.

Issues with wisdom teeth only arise when there is not enough space in your jaw, or your wisdom tooth has got stuck in the wrong position when erupting. This is quite a common scenario and is why they tend to cause pain and discomfort when they emerge.

You may not have to extract your wisdom teeth at all, as in some cases pain and discomfort due to wisdom teeth growing is quite normal. In order to find out if you need wisdom teeth removal or not, it is best to get in touch with your dentist and talk about your specific situation.

What are impacted wisdom teeth and why do they cause problems?

Why do wisdom teeth cause issues?

Wisdom teeth can be really troublesome and an estimated 85% of people have their wisdom teeth extracted. Over time, human jaws have shrunk in size. Nowadays your jaw often doesn’t have enough space for 32 teeth (including your wisdom teeth). Wisdom teeth that have no room to grow into start to push against other teeth, which causes pain and discomfort.

Impacted wisdom teeth

When a wisdom tooth is not able to fully emerge to the surface and is only partially emerging or has remained hidden in the gums, we call this an impacted wisdom tooth. These types of teeth will affect the health of your surrounding teeth as well as cause other oral health problems.

A tooth that has pushed out at the wrong angle will directly impact the surrounding teeth by pushing them out of place and could cause overcrowding of teeth which will, over time, affect your entire jawline. Impacted wisdom teeth could cause the tooth next to your wisdom tooth, the second molar, to be more susceptible to problems like infections or decay.

It’s necessary that you visit your dentist to get advice if you have any tooth ache at all, because it may not just be one tooth that’s in trouble in the case of impacted wisdom teeth. Due to decay, you may end up having to get more than one tooth pulled out – that is, not just the original wisdom tooth but the one next to it as well.

Issues with wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth may trigger multiple symptoms such as:

Bleeding or Swollen Gums and Soreness

As wisdom teeth come through, they will push against surrounding teeth causing them to move and shift. This movement can create discomfort in the jaw, and symptoms could include pain, swelling and stiffness, causing difficulty in opening the jaw and even breathing. They can also cause your gums to become swollen and red, and can be painful to touch and, in some cases, they could cause the gums in the area to bleed as well.

Sinus Pains

Wisdom teeth erupting on the upper jaw could cause issues with the sinuses. This is because the roots of the wisdom teeth sometimes develop and grow up against the sinus cavity, causing immense pressure and pain. If your wisdom teeth affect your sinuses, it can also cause headaches and congestion.

Trouble when chewing food

As wisdom teeth emerge, they can make it troublesome to chew when eating food. It could simply be temporary growing pains as the tooth comes through, creating pressure on the other teeth, or it could be a sign of an impacted tooth causing problems. If your teeth have shifted, the misalignment could cause difficulties in moving your jaw.

How to self-treat wisdom tooth pain

If you are experiencing any pain because of new wisdom teeth emerging, it is important to make an appointment with your dentist to assess the condition.

Here are some at-home remedies that you can use to ease the discomfort you are experiencing, while you wait for your new wisdom teeth to settle in.

1. Over-the-counter pain relief

Ibuprofen works really well to help with the swollen gums and sore jaw, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Paracetamol and Aspirin is good for pain relief. It will dull the pain in your mouth and jaw.

It’s important, however, that you consult your doctor to make sure there aren’t any contraindications of taking this medication and you must make sure to take them as prescribed.

2. Saltwater rinse
Rinsing with a warm water and salt solution will help promote your gum health and will also kill any bacteria that could be in the area.

3. Apply an icepack
If you are suffering from swollen gums and sore jaw, you can apply an icepack to numb the area around your cheek. This will help with the inflammation by reducing it. You can even try swilling some ice water in your mouth; the cold will help numb the area and reduce the pain.

Do not apply any heat to your face when you are suffering from wisdom tooth pain. This is because heat can aggravate an infection, if there is one, and can result in even more swelling and pain.

Wisdom teeth removal procedures

At your initial consult, the dentist will complete a thorough examination of your teeth. This will allow them to give you more information on whether you need to have your wisdom teeth pulled out or not. Often this will mean you need to have an OPG, which is a full mouth x-ray, so that the dentist can examine your wisdom teeth as well as the surrounding structures accurately.

Your dentist can provide a few options to you depending on your specific case. Treatment options include:

1. In-chair wisdom teeth extraction
2. Specialist in-chair wisdom teeth removal
3. In-chair sedation
4. General anaesthetic sedation

To learn more about the full wisdom tooth removal procedure options, click on the link below.  

Summary

Watch Dr. Alistair explain and answer some questions on wisdom teeth in our video below.

To find out more information on aftercare for wisdom teeth extractions and how early intervention can help reduce complications, read the article below.

If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort due to your wisdom teeth, call the friendly team of dentists at Fernvale Dental or book an appointment online.

Can wisdom teeth pain go away and come back?

How long does wisdom tooth flare up pain last?

What triggers wisdom tooth pain?

Does wisdom tooth pain stop?