
Are you a teenager or young adult and have you recently developed a toothache behind your molars or a sore jaw? Although there are several potential causes of this kind of discomfort, one common culprit is your wisdom teeth!
These molars arrive long after your other adult teeth have all arrived and tend to cause problems. As a result, most dentists recommend having them removed. Continue reading to learn more about the discomfort associated with wisdom teeth and what you can do about it!
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth show up usually when you’re between 17 and 25 years old. It’s believed our ancestors evolved them out of necessity to survive on a tough diet of nuts, berries, and chewy meats. These last molars likely compensated for any teeth that may have been damaged or dislodged by the time they reached adulthood.
Today, we have access to cooked food, eating utensils, and dental care and no longer need these extra pearly whites to survive. Not only that, but they tend to cause issues that put your dental health at risk, so they’re typically extracted before they can become problematic.
What Causes Wisdom Tooth Pain?
These late-arrivals can hurt when they struggle to push through your gumline, but there are other potential causes of wisdom tooth-related aches, such as:
- Overcrowding. They may push neighboring teeth out of alignment when they appear, which can throb.
- Impaction. They don’t always have enough room in the jawbone to grow in straight and fail to clear your gumline. Then, they become infected because they’re difficult to clean, which can cause aches and inflammation.
- Cysts. If your wisdom tooth is trapped in your jawbone, it can result in the formation of small, painful fluid-filled sac known as a cyst.
- Oral issues. If your teeth become overcrowded, it’s harder to brush and floss them thoroughly so you’re more prone to cavities and gum disease, which can leave you feeling sore.
How Can I Address Wisdom Tooth Pain?
Thankfully, there are things you can do to alleviate your aching mouth, like:
- Salt water rinse. This is a natural disinfectant and can reduce swelling and associated discomfort.
- Ice pack. Placing a cold compress on the sore side of your face for 15-minute periods can provide a temporary, numbing reprieve.
- Numbing gels. There are plenty of oral gels that contain benzocaine that can reduce sensation in your gums.
- Over-the-counter-meds. It’s usually safe to take Tylenol or ibuprofen to address wisdom tooth pain.
If these tips aren’t helping or your discomfort becomes severe or persistent, it’s time to call your dentist to discuss a possible extraction!
About the Practice
At Soleil Dental of Mesquite, you and your family benefit from two skilled dentists dedicated to helping you build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Vazquez and Dr. Aldana enjoy getting to know their patients so they can customize treatment plans to their unique needs. Then, they combine a compassionate approach with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient comfort while delivering accurate results. Plus, they offer multiple types of sedation and same-day emergency appointments, so if your wisdom tooth aches, you don’t have to wait for relief. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (972) 288-3200.