Wisdom teeth are molars located at the far back of the mouth and typically emerge during adolescence and early adulthood. Not all wisdom teeth erupt completely because space for growth is often limited.

When a wisdom tooth becomes partly trapped in the gums or jawbone, the condition is called an impacted tooth and it can be painful. In addition to impaction, inflammation around a wisdom tooth can also cause pain.

Causes of Wisdom Tooth Pain

Unlike baby teeth, wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt during adolescence and adulthood. In general, a person may have four to eight wisdom teeth, with two to four in the upper jaw and two to four in the lower jaw.

According to experts, wisdom teeth no longer serve a major purpose. They are considered an evolutionary remnant from early humans who ate tough meat and wild plants, requiring more chewing force. With today’s softer foods, the need for extra wisdom teeth has decreased.

Even so, fully erupted wisdom teeth still assist with chewing food, help maintain tooth and jaw alignment, and can act as backups if other molars are damaged. However, when wisdom teeth fail to erupt properly due to limited jaw space (impaction) or grow at an angle, they can become painful.

Some causes of wisdom tooth pain include:

• Teeth that erupt at an angle or fail to erupt fully (impacted teeth)

• Gum disease

• Infection

• Dental abscess

• Cysts

Risk Factors of Wisdom Tooth Pain

Several factors can increase the risks of wisdom tooth pain, including:

• A narrow jaw structure that limits space for tooth eruption

• Inflammation or infection around wisdom tooth

• Abnormal or trapped tooth position that leads to crowding

• Poor oral hygiene that increases infection risk and plaque buildup

• A history of jaw or dental injuries

Symptoms of Wisdom Tooth Pain

Pain from a wisdom tooth may occur with:

• Tooth or gum pain

• Swollen, tender, or easily bleeding gums

• Jaw pain

• Difficulty opening the mouth widely

• Discomfort or an unpleasant taste in the mouth

• Bad breath

• Difficulty chewing

Treatments for Wisdom Tooth Pain

Management can involve home measures and medical treatments.

Some home remedies that may help relieve symptoms include:

• Cold compresses. Apply a cold compress to the painful area for about 15 minutes. Repeat several times a day until the pain eases.

• Salt water gargles. Dissolve a few tablespoons of salt in a glass of warm water, swish over the painful area, and spit. Do this 2–3 times daily.

• Using cloves. Gently chew a clove or place a drop of clove oil on a cotton ball, then apply it to the painful tooth for a few minutes before removing it.

For medical treatment, your dentist may prescribe pain relievers such as ibuprofen, perform acupuncture, or recommend wisdom tooth extraction.

Before surgery, your dentist will examine your mouth and take X-rays to assess the position of the affected tooth and the surrounding teeth and gums. If needed, your dentist will advise extraction to prevent further complications.

Wisdom teeth that erupt and align properly generally do not cause problems. However, if a tooth grows at an angle or horizontally and is likely to cause long-term issues for your teeth and mouth, your dentist may recommend extraction.

If you have questions about wisdom teeth, consult a dentist or use the consultation feature on the Ai Care app, which you can download from the App Store or Play Store.

Looking for more information about other diseases? Click here!