If you’re dealing with wisdom tooth removed, you might be wondering what causes it. Unfortunately, there’s no one specific answer—the types of pain you feel will depend on the position of your wisdom teeth, how your body reacts to them, and whether you had the teeth removed or are waiting to have them extracted later on in life.
Wisdom teeth are removed to avoid them becoming impacted or trapped in your jaw. They can be hard to remove and there is a risk of complications if they are not treated correctly. Because wisdom teeth usually cause problems, dentists don’t want to keep them in your mouth and recommend having them removed as soon as possible. If you’re wondering whether or not you should have your wisdom teeth removed, ask yourself these questions: Are my wisdom teeth causing me pain? Has an oral surgeon recommended removing my wisdom teeth? If so, then it’s probably a good idea for you to get them out sooner rather than later.
As you get older, your mouth and jaw change, causing some people to develop problems with their wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth grow in sideways or even partially underneath gums, it can cause pain and injury to other teeth or structures inside your mouth. And if you’re thinking that more and more people need to have them removed nowadays because they’re too big, new research shows that may not be true. In fact, a study of wisdom tooth development over time found that today’s wisdom teeth aren’t any bigger than they were 100 years ago—but that more people are getting them removed!
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can be problematic for a number of reasons. Some common wisdom teeth pain risk factors include: age, gum disease, overcrowding, and trauma (either from a sport or an accident). The problems caused by these factors vary based on whether or not you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed. If you haven’t yet had your wisdom teeth removed, we recommend seeking treatment early to avoid pain later in life. If you already have removed your wisdom teeth and are experiencing complications with your other molars—congratulations! We hope that our content will provide insight into ways to help reduce pain and discomfort in future visits.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) reports that about 20 percent of people who have their wisdom teeth removed experience some form of pain or discomfort afterwards. This is often due to inadequate healing time before your oral surgeon performs extractions, but it can also be caused by bacteria or other infections. Wisdom tooth pain typically goes away on its own over time, but home remedies can help ease inflammation and infection immediately after extractions. Common solutions include applying cold packs and placing a clean damp cloth against your gums, rinsing with salt water, taking ibuprofen for pain relief and more.
You don’t have to live with wisdom tooth pain. While you are waiting for your wisdom teeth to come in, there are ways to temporarily relieve pain, such as a cold compress on your face or over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. Some patients may be prescribed antibiotics if an infection is found. If you need surgery to remove your wisdom teeth, surgery could be done with local anesthesia (sedation) or general anesthesia, depending on what kind of procedure is needed and which teeth need removing. Sometimes multiple extractions can be done at once.
If you’re going to have your wisdom teeth removed, you probably have a few questions. For example, do I have to take antibiotics before wisdom teeth surgery? Although it is rare, there are circumstances where it might be necessary. It's always best to talk with your doctor before surgery so that he or she can give you all of your options and help you make an informed decision about whether taking antibiotics is right for you. After I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed, When Can I Get Back On Track With My Regular Routine And Diet?
You’re probably wondering if you can get back to your regular routine after having wisdom teeth removed. As for dietary restrictions, most dentists will tell you that it is safe to eat normal foods following your surgery as long as you have no complications. You may find that certain foods hurt more than others, but in general, there are no special diets needed after having wisdom teeth removed. Your dentist or oral surgeon should discuss post-operative care with you beforehand so keep notes on what they tell you until after surgery and ask questions at a follow-up appointment if there are any specific concerns. Good luck! I hope all goes well for you!
