Why Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt? Simple Explanations

Wisdom teeth, or the third molars, have been known to appear in most people between the ages of 17 and 26 years. These molars, at the back of the mouth, are said to cause discomfort for most people. Wisdom teeth may lead to pain, swelling, and infections that might hinder some daily functions like eating and talking. In the article, we will discuss why wisdom teeth hurt, some common treatments, and a few precautions that will help you manage or avoid wisdom teeth issues.

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What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the final set of molars in your mouth. They are referred to as “wisdom” teeth because they will come in at an older age when a person is perceived to be more mature or simply “wiser.”  While some people have enough space in their jaw for these teeth to grow without problems, many others do not. This often results in a lack of space for the wisdom teeth to come in, causing them to become impacted or to only partially erupt, and this leads to several oral health problems.

For other individuals, wisdom teeth never cause any problems and function just like regular molars. However, for most, they might be problematic due to their position in the mouth or how they erupt. This creates discomfort and may lead to issues such as pain, swelling, or even infections in the wisdom tooth pain area.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt?

Wisdom teeth pain occurs due to many reasons. However, some common reasons include :

Impacted Teeth: Wisdom teeth may become impacted when there is insufficient space for them to come out properly. Sometimes, as the wisdom tooth grows in with the rest of the teeth, it causes the other teeth to be pushed aside. This often makes it impossible to open your mouth wide and may be very painful. The pressure from this impacted wisdom tooth can cause pain in the areas surrounding the tooth but even extend to your jaw, ear, and even your head.

Gum Infection (Pericoronitis): When a wisdom tooth only partially erupts, this leaves a flap of gum tissue that may trap bacteria and food particles. Such an infection can cause the gum around the wisdom teeth to puff up and become red; it is quite painful.

Crowding of teeth: During the process of trying to make space in a small area, the impacted teeth exert pressure on other teeth, contributing to irregular spacing, crowding, and pain experienced by the adjacent teeth.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Because they are located at the back of the mouth, it becomes a little more challenging to clean them up. As a result, individuals are more likely to develop cavities and gum infections. A partially erupted wisdom tooth will trap food and plaque, resulting in damage and infection. This causes pain and swelling in the area surrounding the wisdom tooth, which can potentially spread to the jaw and neck.

Treatment of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom tooth problems can range from slight discomfort to severe and agonizing pain; fortunately, there are several treatments available. 

• Over-the-Counter Pain Relief: For patients with mild discomfort in the wisdom teeth, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen help reduce inflammation and keep the patient comfortable.
• Salt Water Rinse: Warm salt water rinse is a simple relief for discomfort and swelling related to wisdom teeth. This can be accomplished by rinsing one’s mouth with warm salt water to calm the swollen gums and eliminate bacteria around the involved area.
• Ice Packs: Applying an ice pack on the outside of the jaw also helps to reduce swelling and numbs the area that may tolerate some pain.
• Professional Dental Cleaning: In case of an infection, your dentist may clean the area more thoroughly and prescribe antibiotics to prevent further complications​.
• Tooth Extraction: Probably the most accessible and permanent cure for wisdom tooth pain is extraction. It is usually advised that individuals whose third molars are causing recurrent pain, are impacted or can affect future dental issues to have them extracted. It is commonly a simple procedure and most people recover from this in a week or so. Once they are extracted, the pain from impacted or infected wisdom teeth is gone​.

Precautions

Some preventive measures to minimize possible risks with your wisdom teeth to avoid future problems include:

• Recommended Regular Dental Visits by Dentists: Nowadays, a dentist may monitor the growth of wisdom teeth using X-rays so that any problem can be treated in the early stage.
• Oral Hygiene: Since wisdom teeth are harder to clean, you have to be more particular with brushing and flossing. Clean around the area of the back of your mouth where you feel the pain is, to prevent infections and decay from building up.
• Watch for Symptoms: You need to keep an eye on the symptoms appearing with your problematic wisdom teeth. These could appear as soreness in your jaw, lumps around your impacted wisdom teeth, difficulties in chewing, or even a foul taste in the mouth. The detection and treatments help prevent all the worst problems of later stages.

Conclusion

Wisdom teeth can be extremely uncomfortable for many people. Whatever the reason, whether impaction, infection, or gum disease, wisdom teeth discomfort can be extremely painful. Fortunately, the pain does not need to reach this level. The discomfort can be alleviated through proper care and treatment, which range from home remedies to expert wisdom tooth extractions. Good dental hygiene and frequent dentist visits will help you identify any problems with your wisdom teeth before they become problematic. If you are experiencing pain or swelling in the front of your chewing area, you should contact a dentist to find out the best treatment options for your condition.

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