With age the wisdom teeth pain comes in.

Key takeaways:

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, typically come in between ages 17 and 25 and may cause pain if impacted or misaligned.
Common symptoms include swelling of the gums, jaw stiffness, facial pain, trouble chewing, and bad breath.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infections, cysts, cavities, or gum disease if left untreated.
Dental extraction is often needed when wisdom teeth are severely impacted or cause ongoing issues.
Preventive measures involve scheduling regular dental checkups and X-rays, practicing good oral hygiene, minimizing sugar consumption, and staying well-hydrated.

What is wisdom tooth pain?

Wisdom teeth, also known as “third molars,” are the last set of adult teeth to emerge and are positioned at the very back of your mouth. Wisdom teeth are named for their late appearance, typically emerging between ages 17 and 25. During your late teens and early twenties, you generally would not consider yourself old or wise. However, as the saying goes, “With old(er) age comes wisdom.”

If wisdom teeth emerge correctly, they can provide support to the back of your mouth and help maintain jawbone density. Nevertheless, in most cases, wisdom teeth are unnecessary. As our diets have changed with modern food preparation and eating tools, the need for wisdom teeth has diminished.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow in normally and cause no problems. However, they often become impacted, meaning they are stuck in the gums or jawbone and do not fully emerge. When this happens, it can lead to infections, cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues. Therefore, dentists often recommend removing them.

How can you tell if you are experiencing wisdom tooth pain?

If your wisdom tooth is growing in a misaligned position and does not have enough space to emerge, it might cause pain. If you experience any of the following symptoms, see your dentist:

Mild pain or discomfort in the gums.
Facial pain, due to pressure on nerves.
Harder to floss
Pain, stiffness, or swelling in the jaw
Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums
Difficulty opening the mouth.
Difficulty in chewing
Bad breath. (Listerine, 2024)
Bad taste in your mouth
Sinus pains.

What is the cause of the pain in the wisdom tooth?

If your wisdom tooth is growing in a misaligned position and does not have enough space to emerge, it might cause pain. If you experience any of the following symptoms, see your dentist:

Mild pain or discomfort in the gums.
Facial pain, due to pressure on nerves.
Harder to floss
Pain, stiffness, or swelling in the jaw
Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums
Difficulty opening the mouth.
Difficulty in chewing
Bad breath. (Listerine, 2024)
Bad taste in your mouth
Sinus pains.

What is the cause of the pain in the wisdom tooth?

A partially impacted wisdom tooth is one that only partly erupts, with part of its crown visible. If the tooth does not erupt through the gums at all, it is known as a fully impacted wisdom tooth. Whether it is partially or fully impacted, the tooth may:

Grow at an angle toward the second molar, which is the next tooth.
Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth.
Grow at a right angle to the adjacent teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is “lying down” within the jawbone.
Grow straight up or down like other teeth, but remain confined within the jawbone.

Other causes for impacted wisdom teeth and pain might be:

Formation of cysts or tumours
Infection
Bleeding gum, gum infection, or pericoronitis
Damage to adjacent teeth or cavities
Eruption is hindered by the presence of cysts or tumours

What are some ways to relieve the pain?

Home remedies:
Saltwater rinse: Your dentist may recommend rinsing your gums with warm water mixed with dissolved sodium chloride (salt) to support healthy gums and remove harmful bacteria. Wisdom teeth can occasionally cause pain or infections in nearby teeth as they erupt through the gums, so keeping a bacteria-free mouth is beneficial.
Peppermint and menthol: Peppermint leaves contain menthol, a natural cooling compound that can help ease your pain.
Clove oil possesses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
Cold and heat therapy: Applying an ice pack to your cheeks helps reduce inflammation and swelling. The cold also numbs the area, reducing pain. Conversely, applying gentle heat can aid healing by relaxing tense muscles and boosting blood circulation.
Turmeric: Its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties suggest it could be a natural remedy for toothaches. To use, apply ground turmeric directly to the affected area to help reduce pain and swelling, or make a paste with turmeric, salt, and mustard oil for more effective relief.
Medication:

If your dentist or healthcare provider prescribes medications, only take them as directed. They may recommend the following:

Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medication commonly known as Tylenol. The medication is available in higher doses by prescription.

Aspirin: The aspirin you might take to relieve severe headaches may also help with your wisdom teeth pain.

Ibuprofen (Advil) is an over-the-counter drug with anti-inflammatory effects, classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs alleviate pain by decreasing inflammation at the source, whereas acetaminophen reduces pain by blocking pain signals.

Operculectomy:

An operculectomy is a minor surgery that involves removing the soft tissue or gum flap covering a wisdom tooth. This helps prevent the accumulation of debris and plaque from food and bacteria (which can lead to pain or swelling) and reduces inflammation. The procedure is very simple: local anaesthesia is applied to numb the area, followed by tissue removal with a surgical scalpel. Usually, no stitches are required.

Wisdom tooth removal:

When home remedies and medications fail to relieve the pain from your impacted wisdom tooth, a dentist or oral surgeon can extract the tooth through dental surgery.

Closed or non-surgical extraction:

The doctor injects a local anaesthetic into the affected area to numb the pain for surgery. Then, the practitioner applies pressure to loosen the tooth from its socket. The procedure typically takes a few minutes but can last up to 40 minutes depending on the position and angle of the impacted tooth. Stitches are usually required to reapproximate the gum tissue, facilitating better healing, which are typically removed after 7 days. Pain and swelling after wisdom teeth removal can last up to two weeks.

Open or surgical extraction:

Your dentist or oral surgeon begins by injecting anaesthesia into the area where the wisdom tooth will be extracted. They then raise a flap of the gum tissue, followed by the removal of the portion of the bone that obstructs access to the tooth. The tooth may be subsequently divided into sections for easier removal in pieces. Finally, the dentist cleans the site and sutures the gum tissue back in place. If you experience pain or swelling at the surgical site after tooth removal, consult your dentist.

What preventive measures should be taken in the future?

You cannot prevent impaction, but good oral hygiene can help avoid gum infections. Here are some prevention tips:

Regular dental checkups every six months assist your dentist in monitoring the growth and appearance of your wisdom teeth.
Routine dental X-rays can identify impacted wisdom teeth prior to the appearance of symptoms. If the impacted wisdom tooth is identified, timely intervention by your dentist can help manage the painful condition.
Maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing teeth twice daily, flossing, and using mouthwash. It can minimize bacteria in the mouth that lead to infections.
Drinking plenty of water helps wash away food and bacteria from the teeth and gums.
Cutting down on sugar and sugary foods could be related to cavities.

Living with wisdom tooth pain:

Wisdom tooth pain is a common issue that can impact oral health if left untreated. Home remedies and over-the-counter medicines might offer temporary relief, but ongoing pain, swelling, or infection requires professional dental attention. Regular checkups and good oral hygiene are crucial in preventing issues with impacted wisdom teeth. If you experience symptoms such as jaw stiffness, gum swelling, or trouble chewing, visit your dentist promptly to avoid long-term problems and maintain a healthy smile.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where are my wisdom teeth located?
Wisdom teeth grow at the back of your mouth, just behind your second molars. People who have all four wisdom teeth typically have one in each quadrant: upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right.
How can I take care of my wisdom teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are still present, your dentist will examine them during routine check-ups to confirm they are healthy. In addition to regular dental visits, maintaining good oral hygiene is essential. This involves daily flossing and brushing two to three times a day. Cleaning the back surfaces of wisdom teeth can be difficult, so take your time and ensure you thoroughly clean all hard-to-reach areas.

How should you clean around your wisdom teeth?
Cleaning around your third molars is feasible; however, it demands additional dental hygiene tools beyond what some people typically use daily. Proper brushing along the gumlines is crucial for stimulating gum tissues and removing soft debris that gathers there. Flossing beneath the gum lines on both sides of the tooth can also help prevent plaque buildup. However, when gum pockets are present or the tooth is only partially erupted, these cleaning methods become more limited.

How long does wisdom teeth pain last?
The duration of wisdom teeth pain can vary depending on whether there is sufficient space in the mouth and whether any complications arise. Pain caused by an impacted wisdom tooth can persist until a dentist removes the tooth. However, a healthcare professional can recommend medications and home remedies to ease the pain.

Is a painful wisdom tooth an emergency?
Sometimes, wisdom tooth pain diminishes naturally without intervention. However, a healthcare provider might recommend dental surgery if the pain is severe or if the wisdom teeth are causing issues such as infection, cysts, decay, or damage to adjacent teeth.