Wisdom Tooth Pain: Causes and What Helps
Knowing the cause of your wisdom tooth pain lets you know if you can wait out a dentist appointment or if you need an emergency dentist ASAP. That aching back molar might be a tooth coming in, one that’s stuck, or a gum that’s become irritated or infected. Here’s what tends to cause the pain, what you can do to feel better in the meantime, and if you’re in the Everett area, the signs that mean it’s time to call us at (425) 743-3911.
Why Does My Wisdom Tooth Hurt?
Your wisdom teeth are the last molars to come in, usually in your late teens or early twenties, and they sit at the very back where there often isn’t much room. That tight spot is behind most wisdom tooth pain. A few common reasons:
- It’s coming in. A wisdom tooth pushing through the gum can be sore for a while, which is normal but still uncomfortable.
- It’s impacted. The tooth is stuck against the tooth in front of it or angled under the gum, so it can’t come in cleanly.
- The gum around it is inflamed or infected. When a tooth only partly breaks through, a flap of gum can trap food and bacteria and become sore and swollen. Dentists call this pericoronitis.
- There’s decay. Wisdom teeth are hard to reach with a brush, so they’re prone to cavities that can ache.
These causes overlap, and you can’t always tell them apart from the chair at home. An exam and an X-ray show what’s actually going on.
What Helps Wisdom Tooth Pain Right Now?
A few simple things ease the discomfort while you arrange to be seen. Rinsing with warm salt water helps clean around a sore, partly-erupted tooth and calm the gum. An over-the-counter pain reliever taken as directed on the label can take the edge off, and ibuprofen tends to work well for this kind of pain and swelling.
A cold compress on the outside of your face helps too. Keep brushing gently around the area, even if it’s tender, to keep food and bacteria from collecting there. These steps are temporary.
They make you more comfortable, but they don’t fix what’s causing the pain, so they work best as a bridge until you can get the tooth checked.
When Is Wisdom Tooth Pain an Emergency?
Most wisdom tooth pain isn’t an emergency, but some signs point to an infection that needs prompt care. Call us right away if you notice swelling in your face or jaw, trouble opening your mouth, a fever, or a bad taste coming from the area. If swelling ever makes it hard to breathe or swallow, treat that as a medical emergency and go to the nearest emergency room.
Our guide on how to tell whether it’s a dental emergency covers where the line is, and our emergency dentist in Everett can see you quickly if the pain is severe or spreading.
Do Wisdom Teeth Always Need to Come Out?
No. Some wisdom teeth come in fully, sit in a healthy position, and just need regular cleaning and monitoring like any other molar. Removal is usually recommended when a tooth is impacted, keeps getting infected, is damaging the tooth next to it, or sits where it can’t be kept clean. The way to know is an exam and an X-ray, which show whether there’s room and how the tooth is positioned.
If removal is the right call, here’s how wisdom teeth removal works, and for a single problem tooth, a straightforward tooth extraction may be all that’s needed. We accept most PPO plans and will explain your coverage and costs before anything is scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does wisdom tooth pain last? Pain from a tooth coming in can come and go over days or weeks as it moves. Pain from an infection or an impacted tooth tends to stick around or get worse until it’s treated, so lingering or worsening pain is worth a call.
Is an infected wisdom tooth serious? It can be if it’s left alone. A gum infection around a wisdom tooth can spread, so swelling, fever, or a bad taste are signs to be seen promptly rather than waited out.
Can I wait to have a painful wisdom tooth removed? Sometimes, if the pain is mild and there’s no infection. But recurring pain, swelling, or infection usually means it’s time. We’ll look and tell you whether it’s safe to wait.
Does insurance help with wisdom tooth removal? We accept most PPO plans and will check your coverage and give you a clear estimate before treatment. Costs vary depending on the tooth and how it’s positioned, so we’ll walk you through it up front.
The Bottom Line
Wisdom tooth pain is common, and most of the time it comes down to a tooth coming in, one that’s stuck, or an irritated gum around it. Simple steps like a salt-water rinse and an over-the-counter pain reliever help you stay comfortable, but they don’t fix the cause, so it’s worth having the tooth checked. Swelling, fever, or trouble opening your mouth are the signs to call sooner rather than later.
If a wisdom tooth is bothering you, call our Everett office at (425) 743-3911 and we’ll get you in for a look. You can also book a visit online.