Wisdom teeth usually arrive between your late teens and mid-twenties. Sometimes they come through without any trouble. Other times, wisdom tooth pain and swelling bring a lot of worry about whether they need to come out.
Key points
- Wisdom tooth pain is often caused by a sore, infected gum flap over a tooth that's only partly through.
- Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. Healthy, painless wisdom teeth can usually stay.
- Removal makes sense if the tooth keeps getting infected, is decayed or is damaging the tooth next to it.
Many people assume every wisdom tooth must come out. In fact, that isn't true. The right answer depends on the position of the tooth, your symptoms and what the X-ray shows.
What causes wisdom tooth pain?
The most common cause is pericoronitis. This happens when a wisdom tooth is only partly through the gum. A small flap of gum sits over the tooth, and food and bacteria get trapped underneath. As a result, the gum becomes swollen, sore and infected.
Other causes include:
- Impaction: the tooth is stuck at an angle and can’t come through properly.
- Decay: wisdom teeth are hard to clean, so cavities are common.
- Pressure on the next tooth: this can damage the molar in front.
How to ease wisdom tooth pain at home
- Rinse gently with warm salt water several times a day, especially after meals.
- Then brush the area carefully with a soft brush to remove trapped food.
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller exactly as the pack says.
- Also, eat soft food and chew on the other side.
These steps can calm a mild flare-up. However, if the pain keeps coming back, it’s time for a proper check.
When does a wisdom tooth need to come out?
Dental guidelines don’t recommend removing healthy wisdom teeth just in case. Instead, removal usually makes sense when:
- The gum over the tooth keeps getting infected
- The wisdom tooth, or the tooth in front, has decay that can’t be fixed
- The tooth is damaging the neighbouring tooth or bone
- There’s a cyst or other problem around the tooth (rare)
First, we take an X-ray, so we can see the position of the roots and nearby nerves. Then we explain your options. Straightforward cases can be done at our clinic as part of our wisdom tooth removal service. If a tooth is deeply impacted, we’ll tell you honestly and refer you to an oral surgeon.
When wisdom tooth pain is urgent
Get help quickly if you have swelling in your face or jaw, a fever, or trouble opening your mouth, swallowing or breathing. Swelling that spreads, or trouble breathing, needs a hospital emergency department straight away.
For other wisdom tooth pain, message us on WhatsApp. We’re open every day until 11 PM, and we’ll find you the earliest slot. Meanwhile, our guide to toothache at night has more tips to ease the pain.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Every mouth is different, so please see a dentist for advice about your own teeth.
