WISDOM TEETH PAIN, SYMPTOMS, AND EXTRACTION

Approved and reviewed by Dr. Lee, a dental professional of over 35 years. LEARN MORE

Dr Robert Lee

Dr Robert Lee is a dentist with more than thirty years of experience in the industry.

Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Business Administration, Robert’s career has taken him all over the world – from Australia to Germany to his current position in Chicago, where he is the founder of Denticus Inc., offering strategic dental consulting.

Robert has previously worked for Procter & Gamble as the Director of Professional Scientific Relations in both the Cincinnati and Sydney offices, being responsible for external relations and scientific exchange with leading professional associations and industry thought leaders. He was also responsible for all technical and scientific training for the professional teams in North America and Australia.

Robert has been assisting the team at Oral-B by fact-checking and reviewing our blogs on dental health. You can find a list of the blogs Robert has approved below:

SEE MORE

• Receding Gums: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
• What are Dental Caries? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Dental Scaling and Root Planing Explained
• Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
• Types of Gum Disease: Stages, Factors & Related Conditions
• Cavity Treatments: What are Ways to Treat Cavities?
• Tooth Plaque and Dental Tartar
• What is Periodontitis? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Tooth Decay and Cavities: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
• Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes, Remedies, and Treatments

SEE LESS

• Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?
• Wisdom Teeth Pain
• Wisdom Teeth Symptoms
• Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are last in line in the back of the mouth and are usually the last teeth to develop. But not all of us have our wisdom teeth, for a variety of reasons. Some humans today have smaller jaws and many of us are unable to accommodate these late-emerging teeth.

Can Wisdom Teeth Be Painful?

Most of us have four wisdom teeth, one at the back in each section of the mouth. For many people, wisdom teeth emerge from the jaw between the ages of 17 and 25 years, and they don’t cause problems. In other people, wisdom teeth can become trapped or impacted in the jawbone or simply fail to erupt. This can cause crowding or displacement of other teeth or lead to the development of localized tooth decay, infection, or gum disease. Impacted wisdom teeth are set in the jawbone in unusual positions, sometimes horizontally, which stops them from erupting in a normal way. However, impacted wisdom teeth often cause no symptoms or pain and stay within the jaw for life.

What are Wisdom Teeth Symptoms?

In some cases, the impacted wisdom tooth does cause problems. You may experience redness and swelling around the area where the tooth is impacted, as well as jaw pain, headaches, and a strange taste when you bite near the area of the impacted tooth.

Wisdom teeth are a holdover from the earlier days of humans when we ate a more primitive diet and needed more teeth. As wisdom teeth try to emerge, they can push other teeth out of the way and interfere with teeth alignment. Also, partially emerged wisdom teeth can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, and bacterial buildup can lead to infection and severe gum disease.

Does Everyone Get Their Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Even if impacted wisdom teeth are causing no symptoms, some dental professionals recommend removing them surgically to prevent the possibility of future problems. Fortunately, wisdom tooth extraction is a common outpatient procedure, performed under local anesthesia. As with any  surgery, expect some residual bleeding, swelling, and bruising in the first few days after the procedure. For a few days limit your activities and rest a lot. Most people recover quickly and easily after wisdom teeth extraction. However, sometimes it takes more time to fully recover, as some extractions might be very difficult.

Wisdom teeth affected by tooth decay are required to be extracted, as they put other molar teeth in danger. Wisdom teeth decay very easily, and they can be difficult to treat (they may grow at odd angles, and they might not be accessible). Wisdom teeth decay may also cause other health issues beyond just the mouth. In fact, studies show that there is a correlation between certain oral health issues and heart disease. That is why it is important to see your dental professional right away if you experience any discomfort caused by your wisdom teeth.

How to Clean Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth infection is most of the time the result of tooth decay development. The back molars are very difficult to clean thoroughly. If your wisdom teeth grow properly, and there is no recommendation for their extraction, it’s important to continue to follow a thorough oral care routine.

• Brush your teeth twice a day with an electric toothbrush like the Oral-B iO9 which removes 100% more plaque than a regular manual brush. Plus, when you brush with the Oral-B app, you can ensure you’re covering every area of the mouth, including hard-to-reach back molars.
• Make sure to floss at least once a day. Pair traditional floss like Oral-B Glide with an oral irrigator like the Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced to further wash away any remaining plaque and food particles from between teeth.
• See your dental professional every six months for checkups and professional cleanings.

It may occasionally happen that the impacted wisdom tooth begins to cause problems. When the tissue between the tooth and the surrounding gum becomes inflamed (pericoronitis), it is advisable to thoroughly rinse out any food debris from the gum area. Your dental professional may also decide to extract the unerupted tooth to prevent further inflammation and infection.

From Oral-B, the #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand, worldwide.

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