3 Warning Signs Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth!
3 Warning Signs Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth!
It’s one of the most popular and most consistently asked dental subjects that we receive from our patients, and oftentimes the source of much confusion. Wisdom teeth. How are they supposed to behave? When are they supposed to appear, and how can I know if they would be better off removed, or if they are better off left alone? One of the key pieces of wisdom tooth wisdom that can inform all of these answers lies in knowing whether your wisdom teeth are impacted or not. Wisdom tooth impaction is when your jawbone, back teeth, or dental soft tissue are forming a substantial obstruction to the emergence of the tooth. The key comes in recognizing if and when this is taking place in your mouth. With the right knowledge and some basic observation, you can likely tell if this is happening to you. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most common indicators of wisdom tooth impaction.
Pain
One of the first and most obvious signs of an impacted wisdom tooth is a sudden onset of dental pain. When your impacted wisdom tooth has no clear path of emergence, problems and pain will soon follow. First the tooth and its roots will proceed with normal pushing forth from the gumline, but when the impacted tooth is stuck and limited by its obstruction, it will likely push against something else in your mouth or jaw causing acute discomfort. Be sure to alert your dentist at the first sign of any dental pain.
Swollen & Red Appearance
If you notice that your back gums feel ‘puffier’ than usual, or that they appear red or even sensitive to the touch, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth. The swelling that you observe may be a small fluid filled sac, known as a cyst, and it grows around the impacted tooth. Left untreated, cysts can grow to a large size, damage nearby molars, and even cause tooth loss. In order to ensure optimal dental health, be sure to remain aware of changes in texture and color, especially in the back molar area.
Bad Breath
One of the most quickly noticeable signs of an impacted wisdom tooth is bad breath. When you have an impaction, your back tooth often will pop up just above the gum line in an effort to emerge. Then something substantial (jaw bone, soft tissue etc.) gets in the way. At this point, the same tooth will retreat back below the soft tissue before repeating the whole cycle again and again. This movement allows air to become trapped below the gum line and encourages bacterial growth that causes bad breath. This onset of bacteria can also cause painful infections.
If you notice any of these key signs of impaction, be sure to give our office a call as soon as possible so that we can provide you with easy options – and relief.