Did you know that about 5 million people get their wisdom teeth taken out each year?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of control over when, where, or how our teeth grow into our mouths. Not everyone is going to have the same experience with wisdom teeth or how they feel.
Luckily, if you’re dealing with wisdom teeth pain, you can get help from the dentist with your issue. Before you make your appointment, it may be helpful for you to learn more about why you’re experiencing pain and what the wisdom tooth extraction process may look like.
Keep reading to get more information before contacting the dentist.
What Is the Point of Wisdom Teeth?
When thinking about why your wisdom teeth are hurting, it’s important to consider the reason they are there in the first place.
According to anthropologists, the third molars, which is another name for wisdom teeth, come from our ancestors. They were needed to help them chew through all of the rough and raw foods they needed to eat to survive, like nuts, meats, and roots.
Today, however, many people eat much softer foods that don’t really require this extra set of teeth. For this reason, wisdom teeth don’t serve a good purpose and are commonly removed as a result.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt?
Wisdom teeth are always the last of your teeth to break through to the surface, and they grow in at the very back corners of your mouth. Usually, a person with wisdom teeth has a set of four (one in each corner).
Keep in mind that not everyone has wisdom teeth, so some people don’t have to worry about this at all. If you’re experiencing pain in your upper or lower jaw, it’s likely due to wisdom teeth pain, however. Even if you aren’t ever able to see wisdom teeth, they may still be hiding under the gums.
The main reason that wisdom teeth hurt is that they are growing in through your gums. If you think about how a baby is in pain when they are teething, this is kind of the same idea but for teens and adults.
You may have had your wisdom teeth for a while and are suddenly feeling pain. This may due to a medley of other problems, including:
- An impacted wisdom tooth
- Cavities
- The development of a cyst
- Gum disease
What Does Wisdom Teeth Pain Feel Like?
Generally, you’ll start to feel a dull pressure in the back of your mouth when your wisdom teeth are having problems. Some people report a throbbing pain in the jaw or even swollen lymph glands.
You might also find that the gum tissue becomes swollen or inflamed during this time, creating even more pain. If you ever notice any redness, tenderness, or sensitivity when you’re eating or drinking, this isn’t something to ignore.
Even if you’re not feeling any pain, don’t think that your wisdom teeth are automatically in good shape. Just because all seems normal doesn’t mean that your wisdom teeth don’t need extracting, so you still need to talk to a dentist about your teeth if you haven’t had them removed.
Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
People commonly get impacted wisdom teeth, which is when the teeth are mostly buried under the jaw or soft tissue. This makes them more vulnerable to further disease because you aren’t able to clean them, but they are still kind of poking through the gum.
There are situations in which your wisdom teeth might grow in incorrectly, which would cause a lack of space in the mouth and crowded teeth.
You may also find that your wisdom teeth are much harder to reach for correct dental hygiene, such as brushing and flossing. If you do decide to keep your wisdom teeth, you may want to get extra help from your dentist to ensure you can reach those back teeth to avoid cavities and gum disease.
Some people can live with their wisdom teeth without having any issues, but the general recommendation is to get them removed. The main reason for this is that most people do end up developing dental health issues if they don’t get those extra teeth extracted.
What Happens Following Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
You will usually have mild pain after an extraction, but there are other side effects that can come up during the healing process.
With any extraction, you’ll likely have swelling and will need to use ice to help control the pain. Your provider, like those at Brampton Corners Dental, is also likely to prescribe you limited-dose narcotics to control your pain symptoms.
One of the most common issues that come up after wisdom teeth removal is dry socket. This usually happens several days following the extraction as the blood clot you need to heal dissolves. If this happens too fast, you will feel extreme pain in your extraction sites, and the dentist will need to treat you further.
You might also develop a pus pocket or bacterial infections if you aren’t careful with taking care of the extraction sites. Follow your dentist’s instructions exactly to avoid these types of issues following the extraction.
Get Treatment for Wisdom Teeth Pain
Whenever you are dealing with wisdom teeth pain, it’s time to call your dentist. Whether it’s due to the teeth growing in wrong, an infection, or poor dental hygiene, your dentist will have remedies to help you out.
Your adult teeth need to be cared for, so don’t forget to practice good dental hygiene to avoid further problems.
If you found the information in this article helpful, be sure to take a look at our other health-related posts next.