Wisdom teeth are the third, and final, molars to breakthrough in the upper and lower jaw. They typically begin to show in your late teens to early twenties. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most common causes of mouth and jaw pain.
Wisdom teeth are known to become impacted, cause shifting teeth, or otherwise negatively impact your life. In this article, we will cover the 4 signs that your wisdom tooth has become impacted, and when it’s time for extraction.
How do wisdom teeth become impacted? More often than not, wisdom teeth do not have sufficient room in the mouth they need to grow, resulting in the tooth twisting or tilting as it emerges. This leads to what is known as being “impacted”, and can lead to infection in the wisdom tooth that can eventually damage your other teeth. The severity of the impaction can have varying degrees, so it’s important to see your dentist for wisdom teeth removal Montreal right away.
The 4 most common signs of an impaction are:
1. Pain and Tenderness in the Back of the Mouth When you experience cringe worthy pain, tenderness or a painful sensation in the back of your mouth, there’s a big possibility you have an impacted wisdom tooth. The pain can remain concentrated to the back molar area, or it can radiate to other parts of your mouth.
2. Difficulties with Chewing People who are experiencing an impacted wisdom tooth very often have problems chewing food or drinking cold drinks. If the foods you love are consistently causing you pain in the back of your mouth when you eat, that’s a tell tale sign that you need to see your dentist to find out if the wisdom tooth has become compacted.
3. Swelling around the Jaw Do you see a noticeable swelling around the jaw area when you look in the mirror? Is the jaw area sensitive to the touch? If this is the case, you may be suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth and need to have it extracted.
4. Tender, Red or Bleeding Gums One of the first and most common signs of an impacted wisdom tooth are angry, swollen red gums around the molar area. It may even bleed occasionally.
By scheduling and keeping regular dental appointments, many of the issues surrounding an impacted wisdom tooth can be avoided. A good dentist will monitor your wisdom teeth as they grow and develop over time. With x rays, your dentist can get a good look at what’s going on. Wisdom tooth extraction is probable at some point, and Alpha Dental Clinic is here to help you avoid unnecessary pain and expense. Don’t wait - contact us today!
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