Are you having pain in your wisdom teeth? There must be a reason behind this pain. Understanding the root cause of your pain ensures a better management of the pain.

Unlike any other teeth, wisdom teeth often struggle to fit properly in the jaw. This can lead to a range of dental issues. There are multiple reasons behind this pain. Understand the causes and know when to seek professional care.

Lack of Space in the Jaw

One of the biggest reasons for wisdom tooth pain is insufficient place of growth.

With time, human jaws become smaller. This happens because of evolution and changes in diet.
Sometimes, when the wisdom teeth emerge, they press against the neighboring teeth. This leads to pain and misalignment in your mouth.
Lack of space can also result in the trapping of wisdom teeth under the gum. This situation further complicates the whole matter.

Impaction – When Wisdom Teeth Get Stuck

Impaction is when wisdom teeth do not have enough room to fully emerge. As a result, they remain stuck under the gums. Wisdom teeth extraction is a good step if you face this situation.

Types of impaction:

Soft tissue impaction- Here, gums partially cover the tooth, leading to irritation and infection.
Partial impaction – In this condition, the tooth is partially visible but has not yet fully erupted. This leads to the trapping of food and bacteria.
Full impaction – Here, your tooth remains completely beneath the gum, pressing against bone or other teeth.

Impaction causes pain in your wisdom tooth, swelling, and jaw stiffness. When you leave this condition untreated, the adjacent teeth may be damaged, or the infection can spread to the whole mouth.

Gum Inflammation (Pericoronitis)

When your wisdom teeth partially erupt, they create small gum flaps that can easily trap food and bacteria in the mouth. This condition is called pericoronitis, and it can be quite painful.

When the tooth erupts partially, the surrounding gum tissue becomes swollen and red.
If bacteria and food particles accumulate under the gum flaps, it will lead to more infection.
The symptoms of gum inflammation are – redness, swelling, pain, bad breath, and even difficulty opening your mouth.
Left untreated, this can lead to severe infections in your jaw and neck. So, be aware if you are thinking of taking this inflammation lightly.

Cavities and Tooth Decay

Your wisdom teeth are positioned at the very back of your mouth; this position makes it difficult to clean the teeth properly. As a result, these teeth become vulnerable to decay and cavities.

Your wisdom teeth are more likely to get plaque buildup as it is very difficult to reach this area with normal brushing and flossing.
If bacteria accumulate, it can lead to enamel breakdown and possible decay.
When your wisdom teeth catch cavities, you will feel pain and sensitivity.
Since these teeth are difficult to treat with fillings, dentists often recommend an extraction. Every year, around 5 million people in the USA undergo wisdom teeth extraction.

Infection and Cysts

Do you know that partially erupted wisdom teeth can become breeding grounds for bacteria?

This infection can also lead to cyst formation.

Bacteria enter the gum tissue around your wisdom tooth and result in swelling, pain, and pus formation.
In some cases, these fluid-filled sacs lead to pressure and bone damage around the impacted tooth.
Severe infection can lead to abscess formation. This can also spread to your bloodstream, causing damage to your overall health.

Wisdom teeth can be critical. Hence, it becomes even more important to monitor your wisdom teeth. If you have any pain or discomfort, your next destination should be a dental clinic. Ignoring the pain can prove to be fatal in later days.