Signs You May Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Your wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, are the last adult teeth to arrive, typically erupting after you turn 17 and before you turn 26. Although wisdom teeth were once crucial for breaking down foods, changes to our diets because of agriculture and food processing techniques eliminated our need for them. Over time, the size of the human jaw has adapted, and most people don’t have enough room for their wisdom teeth to erupt safely.
If you don’t have the room needed for your wisdom teeth to erupt safely, your wisdom teeth may damage or move neighboring teeth when they erupt. When this occurs, you have impacted wisdom teeth and removing the wisdom teeth may be necessary.
How Wisdom Teeth Eruption Leads To Infections And Inflammation
Impacted wisdom teeth are painless until they start to come out. As impacted teeth start to erupt out of gum tissue, there will be a flap of gum tissue above it that may become infected and swollen. This can hurt a lot. You may even feel a painful sensation near your teeth, in your ear, or on the side of your face.
Because impacted wisdom teeth are so hard to clean, they may have cavities or cause food to be lodged between adjacent teeth, causing cavities in your neighboring teeth. This can lead to a dental abscess.
What Is a Dental Abscess?
You may develop a tooth abscess from impacted wisdom teeth. Symptoms that may indicate you have a tooth abscess include the following:
- Fever
- Pain in gums
- Redness inside or outside of your mouth
- Sensitivity to food or drink
- Severe toothache
- Swollen face
- Swollen jaw
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
In severe cases, dental abscesses can interfere with your ability to breathe and swallow. Since many of the symptoms of an abscessed tooth are symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, it may be hard for you to identify the root cause of your symptoms.
You must seek dental care immediately because an abscessed tooth is an emergency. It doesn’t matter if you begin experiencing these symptoms on the weekend; search for a “dentist near me open on Saturdays” so you can receive prompt treatment. You may need a same-day tooth extraction in Houston.
Can Home Remedies Cure Pain From Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
There is no home remedy to treat pain from impacted wisdom teeth. You can get some relief by rinsing the area experiencing pain with warm salt water. However, it is difficult to get underneath the gum tissue without special tools seen at your emergency dentist. You will have to see your 24-hour emergency dentist near you to get proper care for the infected area.
Why You Need Immediate Treatment For Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Since home remedies cannot treat impacted wisdom teeth, you must seek immediate dental treatment for your impacted teeth. Without treatment, you can develop infections and suffer from other severe oral health issues, including the following:
- Cysts
- Dental crowding
- Jaw pain
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth damage
- Tooth decay
- Tumors
What Are The Symptoms Indicating Wisdom Tooth Removal Is Needed?
Because signs aren’t always present, you may not know if you have impacted wisdom teeth. But there are some warning alerts. If you have any of the following wisdom tooth pain symptoms or signs of impacted wisdom teeth, consult your dentists in Midtown and Uptown immediately.
These are some of the common wisdom tooth pain symptoms:
- Bad breath
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Difficulty opening your jaw
- Inflamed gum tissue
- Pain
- Pain when chewing or eating
- Pain when you open your mouth
- Swelling of the gum tissue in the back of your mouth
- Swollen face
How Long Does Wisdom Tooth Extraction Pain Last?
Recovery differs from person to person after removing a wisdom tooth. Many patients may feel discomfort for a prolonged period after wisdom tooth extractions. The other side effects after the surgery may consist of a swollen mouth and cheeks, stiffness, moderate bruising, prickling, or dullness in the mouth.
You can expect the following wisdom tooth pain relief timeline:
- In the first 24 hours after your wisdom tooth extraction, the blood clots will grow near the removal site, creating a shielding layer for the exposed nerve endings and footing for new tissue.
- Two to three days after your Houston tooth extraction, you may notice a decrease in the swelling in the mouth and cheek area.
- In the next 10 to 14 days, the dentist will remove the stitches.
- After 14 days, all the bruising should be completely gone. Now, your mouth should feel relaxed and comfortable.
Steps To Take After Your Wisdom Tooth Removal
Your jaw will be swollen after your wisdom tooth removal. Reduce swelling by applying ice packs and keeping your head elevated. You should also take the following steps to manage your symptoms and promote healing:
- Avoid brushing your teeth immediately: You should wait 24 hours before brushing and flossing your teeth.
- Rest: Give your body time to recover and limit your activities to prevent infections or dry sockets.
- Saltwater rinses: Saltwater rinses are a safe way to keep your mouth clean without damaging the incision site.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids can expedite the healing process.
You should also consume soft foods, such as the following:
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoothies
- Soup
- Yogurt
Avoid hard foods, like chips, raw fruits and vegetables like apples, alcohol, and spicy foods.
How To Stop Wisdom Tooth Pain
Generally, wisdom teeth pain goes away on its own a few days after the wisdom tooth extraction, but in some cases, the pain will be high, and you will need your dentist to assess your condition and recommend treatment. You might require pain management to eliminate your pain.
If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed and have manageable pain, or if you haven’t had your wisdom teeth extracted yet but have bearable pain, you can use the following home remedies to manage your pain:
- Rise your mouth with saltwater
- Aloe vera
- Apply a clove oil mix
- Apply an ice pack
- Teabags
- Onion
- Peppermint
- Numbing gel
- Turmeric
- Take aspirin
- Take ibuprofen
After using all such home remedies, if these things do not work, you need to search for a “walk-in dentist near me” who will give you answers on how to stop wisdom tooth pain.
What to do until you can get to your dentist’s office for wisdom tooth removal:
-Rinse with warm salt water in area of pain
-Take an over the counter pain reliever such as Tylenol
Your Visit will include:
-XRays will be taken of the affected tooth
-Diagnostic tests to find out the origin of the infection, gum versus tooth
What To Expect During Your Wisdom Tooth Removal
Our dental team will evaluate your symptoms and assess your dental health. We will take X-rays and complete diagnostic tests to verify that impacted wisdom teeth are causing your symptoms and explain your treatment options.
Treatments
Treatment depends on where the source of infection is:
- Gum tissue infection: Treatment involves drainage of the area, cleaning underneath the flap of gum tissue, and rinsing with antibiotics.
- Tooth infection: Treatment options for tooth infections depend on the severity of the infection and may involve root canal therapy, wisdom tooth extraction, draining the abscess, or dental crowns. Our emergency dental team can also provide emergency tooth extraction or immediate treatment for lost fillings or damaged crowns.
- Wisdom tooth removal: Wisdom tooth extractions prevent damage from impacted wisdom teeth and enable you to begin the healing process. Removing your wisdom teeth will allow you to properly clean the area, reduce inflammation, and prevent further inflammation.
Sources:
Burgess, L. (2024). Ways to relieve painful wisdom teeth.
Holland, K. (2019). Can I Use Clove Oil to Ease My Toothache?
Tooth Abscess. (2022).
