If you’re experiencing pain in the back of your mouth, it may be your wisdom teeth. These third molars come in late into your teen years or early adulthood. While some people have no issues with these additional teeth, others experience discomfort and others may need an extraction. But why does this happen?
Continue reading to delve into the reasons behind wisdom tooth pain and explore effective remedies to soothe your aching molars.
Wisdom Tooth Impaction
Impaction is one of the most common reasons for wisdom tooth pain. Because your jaw is usually too small to support your wisdom teeth once they grow, they must alter their path. This generally takes the form of erupting sideways into your gumline.
This places pressure on the adjacent teeth and can even damage them if left untreated. This slanted growth also causes gum and jaw pain that can be quite unpleasant.
Gum Infection
Infections around the wisdom teeth, known as pericoronitis, can result in pain, swelling, and redness. Bacterial buildup in the gum tissue covering partially erupted wisdom teeth is a common trigger for this type of infection.
Mouth Crowding
As wisdom teeth press against neighboring teeth, they may cause discomfort. Over time, this pressure can lead to crowding. This is where the teeth shift past and around one another to attempt to make room. This can result in pain, especially if the shift in alignment results in bite difficulties.
When Should I Call the Dentist for my Wisdom Tooth?
If your wisdom tooth pain persists for a week or two, or intensifies, it’s time to seek professional dental advice. A dentist can evaluate the condition of your wisdom teeth with a thorough oral exam and X-rays. Once this is complete, they’ll be able to recommend treatment options, and, if necessary, discuss the possibility of extraction.
What Happens when a Wisdom Tooth Is Extracted?
The process of extraction is painless and straightforward. First, your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area. Then they will use their instruments to gently separate the ligaments that hold the tooth in place. Once this is done, they can gently wiggle the tooth free and pack the socket with gauze.
Sometimes, however, the process is a bit more complicated, especially if the wisdom tooth is impacted. Oral surgery may be needed to extract a tooth in this way, making an incision in the gum tissue and carefully removing the tooth without causing damage to the others.
If you’ve been experiencing pain due to a wisdom tooth, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible. By taking proactive steps and seeking professional guidance when needed, you can ease wisdom tooth pain and get back to smiling in comfort.
About the Author
Dr. J. Darrell Steele is an accomplished and talented oral surgeon with decades of experience. He earned his dental doctorate at Baylor College of Dentistry and continued learning through residencies and training courses. This prepared Dr. Steele for many different procedures including. Call (972) 315-3355 to schedule an appointment at Steele Oral Surgery, or visit the website to discover other services they provide.
