Have you recently been noticing a lot of pain in your jaw or a sudden swelling on the side of your face? Does eating your favorite foods make you want to wince from the sheer discomfort? If so, you might be dealing with a case of impacted wisdom teeth. While wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt, they never come empty-handed. Usually, there is a lot of pain and irritation attached to them. In some cases, your wisdom teeth might not even be growing in the correct position. This is known as impaction and can be quite dangerous if left alone. Thus, it is crucial to identify the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth as soon as possible.
What is an Impacted Tooth?
For your wisdom teeth to grow, there needs to be sufficient space in your mouth. However, if you have a compact jaw, with not enough space in your mouth, the teeth emerging might get moved off track. This can result in the wisdom teeth getting fully or partially trapped in your jawbone and gumline.
Moreover, due to the uncomfortable position, these impacted teeth can put pressure on the rest of your teeth, leading to pain and a multitude of oral health problems.
Cause of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The main reason for an impacted wisdom tooth is the lack of space in your mouth. While they may seem unnecessary now, back in the day, wisdom teeth had a very important role to play. People used to have bigger jaws, which allowed them to eat and chew better. But as time passed, our jaws got accustomed to the developments in human life, getting more and more compact. This is why now, when wisdom teeth grow, they come out quite later than the rest of your teeth and are more of a hindrance than a useful tool.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
It is crucial to note that not everyone with an impacted wisdom tooth suffers pain. In some cases, your wisdom teeth can erupt with zero signs of discomfort. However, for most people, impacted wisdom teeth can cause a lot of disturbance, with its major symptoms being:
- Severe Jaw PainEven if the tooth itself hasn’t come out yet, the movements under the gumline alert your jaw, leading to sharp stabs of pain.
- Odd Taste in Mouth
If the taste in your mouth shifts and everything seems funky or sour, it might be because of the wisdom tooth making its way out. - Tender or Swollen Gums
Since the wisdom teeth are impacted and growing at a weird angle, it mostly affects your gums, making them appear swollen, red, and tender. - Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, is one of the biggest red flags related to oral health. If the stench from your mouth doesn’t go away after brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial solution, contact a dentist immediately. - Constant Earaches
Due to the position of wisdom teeth, when they’re about to pop up, the pressure they transmit can travel to your ears and nose, leading to sinus pain and frequent earaches.
Closing Words
All in all, various symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth stand out, but in severe cases, the pain travels from your mouth to your face and other areas. The moment you feel a shift in your oral health, contact DentaLand Dentistry at (832) 674-8377. You can also drop by our clinic for an in-person appointment at 5003 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77084, located near Subway.