Having dental pain sometimes translates into recurring headaches, and if this pain is due to the appearance of wisdom teeth, then it is essential to identify the different symptoms in order to intervene as quickly as possible.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth at the very back of the mouth. They are actually the third molars (top and bottom). They often appear at the end of adolescence or even the beginning of adulthood.
While teeth sometimes erupt painlessly when there is enough room in the mouth, this isn't the case for everyone. In fact, most young adults experience significant pain and/or hypersensitivity. When teeth erupt at an incorrect angle, they can cause intense pain and negatively impact an individual's quality of life, not to mention the damage they can cause to neighboring teeth.
If your jaw is particularly narrow and you think you may be at risk of developing wisdom teeth, it is essential to consult your dentist to avoid:
- Infections, intense pain and swelling of the gums;
- Impacted wisdom teeth that could affect adjacent (or next to) teeth and gum tissue, and cause long-term pain.
To avoid these pains, here are some symptoms that can help you identify the possible arrival of one or more wisdom teeth:
- The appearance of blood in the mouth mixed with saliva (pinkish saliva);
- The sensation of inflammation at the level of the pericoronal sac (gum which totally or partially covers the wisdom tooth) is called pericoronitis;
- Swelling of the gums that prevents you from fully opening your mouth;
- Persistent and unexplained headaches;
- Fever;
- A radiating pain or pain that radiates to a part of the jaw;
- The feeling of having an ear infection;
- Pain that worsens at night, if you have a habit of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth;
- A sharp pain at the back of the jaw when chewing gum.
It is important to consult your dental clinic to have an X-ray taken, because if the wisdom teeth do not grow properly, they could remain partially impacted in the jawbone and extraction would then be necessary to avoid the risk of infection.
Symptoms of a wisdom tooth that require urgent treatment
- You have been experiencing intense pain in your jaw and/or wisdom teeth for several days;
- You notice that pus is forming at the level of the wisdom teeth, which means that the gum is infected;
- You regularly have bad breath, a possible consequence of food trapped under the part of the gum covering the tooth which can lead to infection.
Do I need to have my wisdom teeth extracted?
Only your dentist has the professional expertise to determine if one or more of your teeth need to be extracted. A consultation and an X-ray are necessary to see if your jaw has enough space to accommodate these new teeth. If you have the space, the dentist will also assess their potential for decay and the exact stage of growth of your wisdom teeth.
The REMA Dentists team will welcome you and gladly assist you with your dental check-up, establishing the best diagnoses related to your condition.
