Wisdom Teeth Warnings: Pain and Relief

 Introduction

Wisdom Teeth also called as “Third molars”, typically emerge at the back of the jaw between 17-25 years of age. Eruption of these teeth may cause pain and discomfort that subsides on their own. 

These third molars are inherited from our ancestors who needed them to chew tough plant material. The evolution changed the structure of the human jaw, it became smaller in size that’s why many people find themselves in trouble. As a result of not getting enough space in the jaw, teeth can become impacted-they don’t grow fully through the gums leading to pain and swelling.

Identify Wisdom Teeth Pain

Understanding the pain and discomfort can help in managing it effectively.

• Common Pain Points

1. Gum Pain:

 Pain, swelling and redness in gum around the emerging tooth.

2. Jaw Pain: 

Due to pressure from growing teeth, aches and stiffness in the jaw are common.

3. Earache: 

Pain approaches the ear on the same side where the wisdom tooth is emerging.

4. Headache:

 Pain radiates from jaw to head.

5. Teeth and Surrounding Molars:

 As wisdom teeth push against adjacent teeth, they can cause pain, sensitivity and even misalignment.

• Nature of Pain and Discomfort

1. Dull Throbbing:

 Persistent, dull ache in the back of the mouth.

2. Sharp Pain:

Intense, localized pain in the affected area.

3. Bad taste/mal-odor: 

Unpleasant taste and smell from mouth due to infection around the wisdom tooth.

4. Difficulty Eating:

 Pain while chewing or opening mouth.

Causes of Wisdom Teeth Pain

• Impaction: 

When wisdom teeth don’t have enough space to emerge in the jaw, it becomes trapped under the gums/against other teeth, causing pain, swelling and pressure.

• Infections:

 Partly grown wisdom teeth create pockets- a fan shaped gum tissue partly covers the tooth, where foods get trapped and cause infections. The condition is called Pericoronitis.

• Cavities and decay: 

Due to it’s hard-to-reach location, wisdom teeth are difficult to clean properly and are more susceptible to caries and plaque, that may be a reason why your wisdom tooth hurts.

• Cyst: 

In some cases, fluid-filled sac forms around the impacted wisdom tooth leading to jaw pain, bone damage and increased discomfort.

Easing Wisdom Teeth Pain

• Home remedies:

1. Salt-water rinse:

 Salt water helps to reduce inflammation and promotes healing.

2. Ice-packs: 

Apply on the outside of your cheek where you feel the pain, it can numb the area for sometime.

3. Green-tea bags: 

Freeze the used green-tea bags and keep at the site where the wisdom tooth hurts for sometime. It will again work as an ice-pack as well as its anti-inflammatory properties helps to reduce inflammation.

• Over-the-counter solutions:

Medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen for pain-relief in mild cases, but it is better to consult a dentist before self-medicating.

• When to seek professional help?

1. In cases of severe swelling,
2. In severe and persistent pain,
3. Stricted mouth opening conditions,
4. Fever and pus-discharge.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

It is not necessary in all cases to remove wisdom teeth but in cases where there are chances of complications such as severe pain, infections, damage to neighbouring teeth due to wisdom teeth, experts suggest removing the wisdom tooth.

Most common reasons for removal of wisdom tooth are:

1. Impaction:

 The gums or bone fully trap the tooth, as result tooth finds difficult to erupt properly.

2. Overcrowding: 

There isn’t enough space in the mouth, leading to misalignment of other teeth.

3. Tooth decay: 

Their location makes them hard to clean, increasing the risk of cavities. 

4. Infections: 

Partly grown wisdom teeth can trap food and bacteria, leading to infections.

5. Sharp Edges: 

Due to less space to grow, sharp edges of wisdom teeth start hurting cheeks leads to ulcers. 

Steps of wisdom tooth removal

1. Consultation and Evaluation-

• Examination and X-rays: The dentist takes x-rays to see the tooth’s position and complexity to make a treatment plan for removal.

• Medical history: Dentists discuss your medical conditions and medications you take.

2.  Preparation and Anaesthesia-

Dentists will numb the area with local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia to make you comfortable during the whole procedure.

3. Incision and Exposure-

• The dentist makes a small incision in the gum to expose the tooth and remove any bones that block the whole tooth. 
• Tooth is then gently loosen and lifted from its socket.
• In some cases, the dentist divides the tooth into sections for easy removal.

4. Cleaning and Closure-

• The extraction site is then cleaned to remove debris.
• To close the gum, stitches are placed that help in healing and easy recovery.

5. Aftercare-

• Gauze is placed to control bleeding,
• Instructions for pain-management, swelling control and diets are given 
• Follow-ups can be scheduled to monitor healing and to remove stitches, if the stitches are non-dissolvable.

Common Instructions to Follow

• Eat after an hour: 

You must leave the gauze for 30 min to an hour after surgery and shouldn’t spit for the day.

• Foods you can eat: 

After removing gauze, in the initial 1 hour an ice-cream can be consumed to help blood clot. It is suggested to consume only soft foods such as yogurt, pudding, rice, soups, mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs but at a normal temperature.

• Don’t brush:

 Don’t brush or use mouthwash within 24 hrs of removal as it will disturb the blood clot which is essential for healing. You can brush or rinse with salt water after 24 hrs.

• Don’t drink or smoke: 

Avoid alcohol and smoking cigarettes atleast for 3 days as they slow down the healing process and lead to other complications.

Wisdom tooth removal complications

• Bleeding after removal: 

It is normal to bleed after extraction but if it bleeds continuously after an hour of removal, consult the dentist immediately.

• Swelling:

 It’s normal and persists for atleast 3 days in some cases, applying ice packs after surgery helps.

• Dry socket: 

It is a severe complication, due to loss of blood clot, the bone at the site of tooth removal exposes, causes extreme pain. It is treatable by placing gauze with some dressings or pain-reliever in the socket.

Conclusion

Wisdom teeth often cause pain and discomfort when they emerge between ages 17- 25. Understanding and managing symptoms with home remedies or professional help can alleviate discomfort. Regular dental check-ups ensure timely treatment for wisdom teeth-related issues.

References

1. https://wellwisp.com/will-my-wisdom-teeth-stop-hurting/
2. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/wisdom-teeth-adult