Impacted Wisdom Teeth – 3 Warning Signs

Are you Experiencing Wisdom Teeth Pain, Swelling, or Discomfort?

Wisdom teeth impactions happen when a wisdom tooth struggles to break through or erupt through the gums. Usually, around the age of 20, your back teeth will erupt and can become infected during this time which could cause you a lot of wisdom teeth pain and discomfort. This happens primarily because of their position in the mouth.

They’re often very hard to reach with your toothbrush and floss, which means they’re not regularly cleaned properly. This can cause food, plaque and other debris to accumulate on and between the teeth, promoting bacteria growth. Decaying of neighbouring teeth, sinus issues, deterioration of the jaw, gum decay and even cysts are all possible complications from impacted wisdom teeth.

Sometimes, a wisdom tooth doesn’t erupt fully. When this happens, the tooth may be covered partially with a flap of gum tissue, which can also trap food, plaque, and bacteria, resulting in a painful wisdom tooth infection.

Understanding the signs of impacted wisdom teeth can help you know when to get proper dental help. It is also possible to detect impacted wisdom teeth early through regular dental checkups and a pan x-ray. In some situations, a dentist may even recommend a patient to consider wisdom teeth removal early, even if they have not reported many problems.

If a tooth has become impacted there are an array of signs and symptoms that will alert you when something is not right. If you are experiencing any of these signs/symptoms then it is time to make an appointment to the dentist.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Warning Signs

1. Pain
2. Swelling
3. Bad taste or bad breath

Wisdom Teeth Pain – Besides tooth and jaw pain, wisdom tooth impaction can cause major pain in some other areas. Wisdom teeth are located in the back of your jaw, therefore, a lot of tension can be created in that area. They are also located just under your sinus passages and can cause pressure against those passages. You may feel pain in any of these areas:

• Tender glands
• Headaches
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Earaches
• Facial pain
• Painful and bleeding gums
• Teeth surrounding the wisdom teeth
• Difficulty opening and closing mouth

Swelling- While most people expect swelling of gums or even along the jaw line for erupting teeth, there are more areas that might be affected. A big issue when it comes to these teeth becoming impacted is swelling in any of the following areas:

• Around the Jaw
• Gums
• Glands in the Neck or Shoulder
• Sinuses
• Face

Bad taste- Wisdom teeth are tricky areas to clean and this is especially true as they erupt through the gums. Tiny crevices and open gums create multiple options for bacteria and debris to hide. Remember if you continuously brush your teeth and still experience the following, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist:

• Continuously foul smelling breath
• Constantly having a bad taste in your mouth
• Food consistently tasting odd or off

Visiting your Hamilton dentist for regular checkups and recognizing the 3 main symptoms that occur with impacting of a wisdom tooth can help you catch problems before they start! If you are experiencing wisdom teeth pain, swelling, or a bad taste in your mouth, you should contact your dentist immediately.

To have your wisdom teeth assessed, call Century Stone Dental 905-545-4833 or email  [email protected].

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Dr Christopher Sims

Dentist in Hamilton at Century Stone Dental

After attending the University of Toronto to obtain his DDS, Dr. Christopher Sims made his way to Hamilton to complete an undergrad at McMaster Unversity. But his education didn’t stop there. He’s completed a number of additional courses to best serve his patients and be able to educate them too.

No matter your age, dental condition, and if you have a million questions, Dr. Sims can assist you or your young children in a professional manner and loves answering any of your questions or concerns. Dr. Sims grew up in Grimsby playing basketball, so he’s always up for talking about the Raptors! He’s also a football fan - go Buffalo Bills! In his free time, if he’s not watching a basketball game or football game, you’ll likely find him working out, cooking (got any new recipe ideas?), and of course, spending time with his amazing family.

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