Wisdom tooth pain is a common experience, especially for those who are in their late teens or early 20s. While it might start as a mild ache, it can gradually become more noticeable and cause daily discomfort.
Often, wisdom tooth pain can subside on its own, usually lasting for a few days or weeks at a time until the tooth has finished growing. However, if the pain seems to worsen or becomes more persistent to the point where it has become difficult to manage, it may be time to check in with your dentist.
Sometimes, wisdom teeth can grow in a way that can make them difficult to manage or could cause other issues, particularly with teeth alignment, which can mean that they need to be removed.
Seeing a dentist will help to determine if you need any treatment, ongoing monitoring or removal.
At Oasis Dental Studio, our general dentists are experienced in assessing and managing wisdom tooth issues. If your wisdom teeth are causing pain, a consultation will allow us to discuss wisdom tooth pain relief and examine your overall oral health. Please get in touch with our team in the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Pottsville to schedule your consultation.
What Are Wisdom Teeth, and Why Do We Have Them?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the very back of the mouth.
Most people have four, with two on the top and two on the bottom, but it’s also common to have fewer – or sometimes, none at all. They’re the last adult teeth to come through, usually appearing between the ages of 17 and 25.
From an evolutionary perspective, wisdom teeth were useful for early humans who had larger jaws and a tougher diet. They helped with grinding down tough foods like roots, nuts, and raw meat.
Over time, as diets changed and jaws became smaller, there’s often not enough room for these extra molars to grow, which means that wisdom teeth can become impacted, grow at an angle, or only partially erupt. Essentially, these issues can then lead to discomfort, inflammation, and other dental concerns.
What Wisdom Tooth Pain May Feel Like
Wisdom tooth pain symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person. For some, it’s a dull ache that comes and goes, while others may experience a sharp or throbbing pain that is often felt at the back of the jaw.
The discomfort might be more noticeable when chewing, brushing near the area, or even opening the mouth wide. Some people also notice swelling, a feeling of pressure around the jaw or ears, or gum tenderness behind their back molars. Sometimes, the pain can also spread to nearby areas or cause headaches.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Grow?
Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to grow, usually emerging between the ages of 17 and 25. However, this can vary slightly from person to person.
Wisdom tooth pain symptoms can start as early as when the molars begin to develop and move. Some level of discomfort can start before the tooth is visible, as the tooth pushes against the gums or nearby teeth. Some people may not notice any discomfort until the tooth actually begins to erupt through the gum, which is when symptoms like swelling can become more noticeable.
Sometimes they will grow without any issues, but often they don’t have enough space to erupt comfortably. This can lead to impaction, where the teeth grow at an angle, only partially emerge, or remain trapped underneath the gum.
While many people notice their wisdom teeth in their early twenties, others may not have any symptoms until later, while others may not end up having wisdom teeth at all.
How Long Does Wisdom Tooth Pain Last?
Wisdom tooth pain symptoms can last for short periods of time, or they can become more persistent.
Some people may experience short-term discomfort when the tooth first starts to break through the gum, which may only last for a few days or weeks. Others may have ongoing or recurring pain, especially if the tooth is impacted or putting pressure on nearby teeth.
In situations where there’s an infection or inflammation in the area, the pain can persist for longer or get worse over time without treatment. If the pain doesn’t subside on its own or keeps returning, it’s a good idea to see your dentist for advice.
Causes of Wisdom Tooth Pain
Wisdom tooth pain symptoms can stem from a few different causes.
- The main cause of discomfort as wisdom teeth grow is impaction, where the tooth doesn’t have enough room to emerge fully and ends up pushing against other teeth or becoming trapped under the gum. This pressure can lead to aching or sharp pain that builds over time.
- Partially erupted wisdom teeth can also be difficult to clean, making the area more prone to inflammation or infection. A flap of gum tissue over the tooth can trap food and bacteria, leading to swelling, redness, or a condition known as pericoronitis. Sometimes, the pain might also come from decay, especially if the tooth has come through at an angle that makes brushing difficult.
- Other causes can include a crowding of the nearby teeth, pressure in the jaw, or referred pain that spreads to the ear or head. X-rays are often used to help identify the cause, particularly if the tooth hasn’t come through completely or is positioned awkwardly beneath the surface.
What Helps Wisdom Tooth Pain?
For at-home wisdom tooth pain relief, you can try methods like rinsing with warm salt water, using over-the-counter pain relief, and applying a cold compress (which can also help to reduce swelling).
You should also avoid foods that are too hard or chewy while the pain is present, as this could worsen the discomfort and potentially cause irritation.
If none of your usual at-home wisdom tooth pain relief methods are working, you may need more tailored and detailed advice from your dentist. Your dentist will be able to assess your wisdom teeth and your gums to see what may be needed.
When to See a Dentist
If you have wisdom tooth pain symptoms that are hard to manage or seem to be worsening, we recommend seeing one of our experienced dentists for a check-up.
Even if your wisdom tooth pain symptoms are mild, it can still be helpful to have the area examined, particularly if the tooth has only partially come through or isn’t in a good position.
Our dentists at Oasis Dental Studio in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Pottsville can take a look at the condition of your gums in the area, assess the growth of the teeth and provide you with advice for suitable wisdom tooth pain relief.
We recommend contacting our team if:
- You have ongoing or worsening pain at the back of your mouth
- You notice swelling or tenderness in the gums or jaw
- You have difficulty opening your mouth or chewing
- You have a bad taste in your mouth or bad breath that doesn’t go away
- You’re experiencing redness or signs of infection near the tooth
- You feel pain that spreads to the ear, neck, or head
- You can feel/see a partially erupted tooth that may be trapping food or plaque
Possible Treatment Options for Wisdom Tooth Pain
The right treatment for wisdom tooth pain symptoms will depend on what’s specifically causing the pain.
Your wisdom teeth may not necessarily need treatment and monitoring their growth may be sufficient – or, if issues like infection has occurred or there’s simply not enough room for the extra teeth, treatment may be needed.
At Oasis Dental Studio, our general dentists can identify any issues, monitor the growth of your wisdom teeth and provide advice for pain relief. If treatment is necessary, we will discuss your options and outline what you can expect.
- Monitoring
If the pain is mild and the tooth appears to be growing without any significant concerns, your dentist may simply recommend to regularly monitor the tooth. Monitoring generally involves periodic check-ups and X-rays to track the position of the tooth and check for signs of crowding, decay, or impaction over time. You’ll also be able to discuss wisdom tooth pain relief methods, if needed.
- At-Home Management
For short-term relief, rinsing with warm salt water, using over-the-counter pain medication, and avoiding hard or chewy foods can help. Keeping the area clean, especially around a partially erupted tooth, may also reduce the chance of inflammation or an infection developing.
- Antibiotics
If there’s an infection around the wisdom tooth or in the surrounding gum tissue, a short course of antibiotics may be prescribed. While antibiotics doesn’t necessarily address the wisdom tooth itself as the underlying cause, it can help to manage the symptoms and reduce inflammation, especially before undergoing any further treatment, like removal.
- Simple Extraction
If the tooth has grown through the gum and is easily accessible for your dentist, removing the wisdom tooth may be a simpler procedure.
Since the tooth has already grown through the gum, there may not be a need for incisions, as your dentist may be able to loosen the tooth to aid in the removal process.
A simple extraction can often be performed under a local anaesthetic and may be recommended if the tooth is decayed, repeatedly causing issues, or doesn’t have enough space to grow.
- Surgical Removal
If the tooth is impacted, only partially erupted, or growing at an angle, a surgical removal, which can include an incision in the gum, may be needed.
The procedure is most often performed under a local anaesthetic, but may also be performed with sedation. Less often, general anaesthetic may be necessary – usually in cases where all four wisdom teeth may need to be removed in one procedure.
Surgical wisdom teeth removal often involves making a small incision in the gum to allow access to the tooth, and possibly removing some surrounding bone. Sometimes, the tooth might be divided into smaller sections during the procedure to make it easier for your dentist to remove.
It’s normal to feel pressure in the area during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel any pain due to the anaesthetic. Stitches may sometimes be needed to close the incision once the tooth has been removed.
After having a wisdom tooth surgically removed, you’ll have some recovery instructions to follow to avoid infection and help swelling subside. Your dentist may recommend rinsing with warm salt water, consuming only soft foods and getting some rest after the procedure.
Can More Than One Wisdom Tooth Be Removed?
It’s common for more than one wisdom tooth to be removed during the same procedure.
Removing more than one tooth may be recommended if multiple teeth are showing signs of impaction, are partially erupted, or are positioned in a way that’s likely to cause problems over time. Your dentist may suggest addressing them in one go, instead of having separate removal procedures for each tooth.
A surgical removal where more than one wisdom tooth will be removed can still be performed with local anaesthetic, but some patients may opt for general anaesthesia, particularly if all four teeth need to be removed at the same time.
Your dentist will go through your X-rays and discuss what may be needed, depending on how your teeth are positioned and whether they are likely to grow without issues or cause discomfort or other issues in the future.
