Wisdom teeth pain – signs it’s time to pull your wisdom teeth
Your dentist tells you it’s time to take your wisdom teeth out but you’re not experiencing any symptoms.
Do you really need to have wisdom teeth extractions?
Or what if you are experiencing wisdom teeth pain? Does that automatically mean you need to have them pulled?
If you have a ton of questions running through your mind at the prospect of getting your wisdom teeth out – you’re definitely not alone. Most people want to avoid it if possible.
However, there are good reasons why your dentist recommends this route.
Top 6 signs it’s time to pull your wisdom teeth
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, it’s a sign it’s time for your wisdom teeth removal.
1. You’re Experiencing Jaw Pain
As your wisdom teeth come in, they start to press against the teeth in front of them. The result is a feeling of pressure and possibly even pain. Even if the teeth are impacted, they can put pressure on the adjacent teeth, as well as the nerves of the jaw. You can end up with jaw tenderness and headaches because of it.
2. You Have Wisdom Teeth Pain
Due to dental decay, gum disease, or impaction, you can experience wisdom tooth pain. Most of the time, the only remedy is to have your wisdom teeth removed.
3. Your Face Is Swelling
Because of the pressure on the nerves and the crowding of your teeth, your jaw may swell. You may or may not experience jaw or tooth pain along with the swelling. However, you’ll notice that you’ll have a hard time opening your mouth because the swelling has caused some jaw stiffness.
4. You’re Having a Hard Time Cleaning Your Teeth
Difficulty maintaining proper oral hygiene is one of the main reasons why dentists recommend wisdom teeth extractions. If you can’t get the teeth clean, it’s only a matter of time before you have dental decay and gum disease.
You might not be able to clean well because the teeth are so far back or because they’ve come in at a weird angle, or they’re causing crowding and some crookedness. The same things that make it difficult for you to care for the teeth make it difficult for your dentist to restore them.
Even if they can fill the tooth or treat the gum disease, you’re still going to have a hard time cleaning them, which means you’ll likely end up with more decay or gum disease down the road. It will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration to have the teeth out early before they cause any of these problems.
5. You Have Bad Breath That Doesn’t Go Away with Brushing
Do you have a bad taste in your mouth? Do people complain that you have bad breath? Dental infections, impacted food debris, and gum disease can all lead to bad breath. Unfortunately, this type of bad breath isn’t something that can simply be brushed or rinsed away. Until the root cause of the problem is addressed, you’ll continue to suffer from it.
6. Your Gums Are Swollen
A good indication that your wisdom teeth are trying to come in is that your gums will be swollen and sore. The teeth are trying to break through the gums and that leads to tenderness. Think of how a baby feels when it’s teething – that’s what you’re experiencing.
Another cause of swollen and/or red, bleeding gums is partial impaction of the wisdom tooth. Because of a lack of space, it can’t come in all the way. It’s easy for food particles and plaque to build up and difficult to remove.
What does wisdom teeth pain feel like?
Wisdom tooth pain can be intense. You’ll feel throbbing pain and pressure in the back of your mouth and jaw joints. Pain can even radiate from the jaw to other areas of the head, like the eye and ear, as well as down the neck. It isn’t uncommon for this pain to trigger headaches.
Pain can also be caused by gum soreness. It can make you feel like you have a toothache and even make it difficult to chew.
The Signs of Wisdom Tooth Impaction
Impacted wisdom teeth don’t always present with symptoms. Some people think they just didn’t develop any wisdom teeth when, in reality, the teeth simply never erupted. They’re permanently lodged in the bone.
Some patients do experience symptoms, though, including:
Red, swollen, bleeding gums
Jaw pain
Jaw swelling
Difficulty opening your mouth
Bad breath
Partially exposed/erupted wisdom teeth
In some cases, impacted teeth can shift forward, causing damage to the roots of adjacent teeth.
Do wisdom teeth extractions hurt?
During your extraction appointment – which will take approximately 45-60 minutes – you’ll be given general, as well as local anaesthesia. Your gums and teeth will be numb, and you’ll be asleep. You won’t feel anything during the procedure.
After the procedure, you can experience:
Jaw soreness
Jaw swelling
Soreness at the extraction site(s)
Most people describe the pain as mild-to-moderate and say it only lasts a few days. With anti-inflammatory medications, ice packs, and downtime, you’ll heal and any discomfort will go away quickly.
That said, you will have to pick your meals carefully for a few days up to a couple of weeks due to the sensitivity. Learn more about that in our guide on what to eat and drink after tooth extraction.
Is a wisdom teeth removal expensive?
When you’re ready to have your wisdom teeth removed, call the Kowhai Dental team. They’ll talk you through the process and give you a cost estimate based on your insurance coverage. As of April 2023, the starting price for wisdom teeth extractions is around $321. Feel free to call Kowhai Dental to discuss payment and outside financing options.
Think you need your wisdom teeth out but want more information first? We totally understand. Check out our info on wisdom teeth before scheduling a consultation with our team.