Wisdom tooth pain is common, especially when a wisdom tooth is partly erupted, difficult to clean, or pressing against surrounding gum tissue. The pain may be mild at first, but it can become more serious if inflammation, decay or infection develops.
If you have wisdom tooth pain in Lara, a dental assessment can help identify the cause and whether monitoring, cleaning, medication advice, or extraction may be needed.
Why do wisdom teeth cause pain?
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come through. For some people, there is not enough space at the back of the mouth for them to erupt properly.
Pain may occur because the tooth is partly covered by gum, trapped at an angle, difficult to clean, decayed, infected, or placing pressure on nearby teeth or gum tissue.
Common symptoms of wisdom tooth problems
You should book a dental assessment if you notice:
- Pain at the back of the mouth
- Swollen or tender gum around the wisdom tooth
- Bad taste or bad breath from the area
- Pain when chewing or opening your mouth
- Food trapping around the wisdom tooth
- Jaw discomfort or pressure
- Recurring flare-ups in the same area
When should you see a dentist?
You should see a dentist if wisdom tooth pain lasts more than a day or two, keeps returning, becomes severe, or is associated with swelling, bad taste, fever, difficulty opening your mouth, or pain when biting.
Early assessment can help reduce the risk of the problem becoming harder to manage.
What if your face or jaw is swollen?
Swelling can sometimes be a sign of infection. If swelling is present, call a dentist promptly for advice.
If swelling affects your breathing, swallowing, eye area, or you feel very unwell, seek urgent medical care immediately.
Will wisdom teeth always need to be removed?
No. Not every wisdom tooth needs extraction. Some wisdom teeth come through properly, are easy to clean, and do not cause problems.
Extraction may be recommended if the tooth is repeatedly painful, infected, decayed, damaging nearby teeth, or unlikely to erupt into a healthy position.
How does the dentist check wisdom teeth?
Your dentist will examine the area and may recommend an X-ray to check the position of the wisdom tooth, the roots, nearby teeth and surrounding bone.
This helps the dentist decide whether the tooth can be monitored, cleaned, treated, or should be referred or removed.
What can you do while waiting for an appointment?
Keep the area as clean as possible, gently brush around the tooth, rinse with warm salty water, avoid chewing on the painful side and call the clinic for advice.
Do not ignore recurring swelling or severe pain, as wisdom tooth infections can worsen.
Book a wisdom tooth assessment in Lara
Lara Dental Prime provides wisdom tooth assessments and general dental care for patients in Lara and nearby suburbs.
Learn more about wisdom tooth extraction in Lara, emergency dental care, or call 03 5282 2222.