Does the throbbing wake you up at night? Does pain in the back of your mouth keep you from focusing? If you’re suffering from wisdom tooth pain, you might wonder, Can wisdom tooth pain go away on its own? It’s a fair question. After all, humans have always had wisdom teeth, even before extraction was commonplace. Today, you’ll learn when wisdom tooth pain should be assessed by your Homewood, IL, dentist.
Your family deserves dental care from a skilled, experienced, and highly trained team of dentists, backed by excellent dental hygienists and assistants. We invite you to schedule a consultation or checkup at our beautiful, comfortable Homewood dental office, Signature Smile Arts. Call us at (708) 799-5353 today! We will get you out of pain!
Why Wisdom Teeth Cause Pain in the First Place
Throughout the course of history, humans have moved from chewing hard foods, like roots and nuts, to consuming a mostly processed, soft diet. We no longer require the large third molars, known as wisdom teeth, that erupt in the back of the mouth in a person’s late teens or early twenties. Because of these dietary changes, our mouths evolved, and now we have smaller jaws than our prehistoric ancestors.
Still, most of us develop four wisdom teeth, pushing through the jaws regardless of whether sufficient space exists for their eruption. At our Homewood dental office, we often treat patients with impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth, as well as those whose third molars haven’t yet seen the light of day. Some adults retain their wisdom teeth throughout life, but many folks have difficulty keeping the large molars cleaned and flossed, which makes them prone to developing cavities, as well as gum disease in surrounding soft tissues.
Wisdom tooth pain may come and go as the teeth move, but professional intervention can end the pain for good, reduce dental crowding, and make dental hygiene easier.
When Wisdom Tooth Pain May Temporarily Fade
Generally, wisdom teeth take six months to a year to fully erupt if adequate space exists in the jaw and the teeth do not become impacted. During this time, pain may come and go as the third molars and neighboring teeth move and shift within the jawbone.
Impaction occurs when a tooth becomes stuck, unable to erupt. Usually this happens when the emerging tooth is wedged against another tooth, bone tissue, or dense soft tissues. It’s common for third molars to move at an angle that does not allow for full eruption.
Women may experience wisdom tooth pain during pregnancy or their menstrual cycles, as well. Hormonal changes affect the gums and oral tissues. Gums may become swollen, red, and sensitive during periods of hormonal fluctuations. Inflammation may also trigger nerve sensitivity, with pain radiating from the jaw to the ear or neck.
When Wisdom Tooth Pain Will NOT Subside
Pain in and around your wisdom teeth may indicate impaction, infection, periocoronitis (a tissue flap over partially erupted tooth), decay, or cyst formation. If you notice jaw stiffness, fever, a foul taste, difficulty opening your mouth, or swollen gum tissue, it’s time to call the dentist for an evaluation. If pain keeps you from sleep, work, and activities, schedule an appointment. Any time a health issue negatively impacts your quality of life, you need a professional diagnosis and treatment plan.
What Your Homewood Dentist Can Do to Stop Pain
Our first priority is to get patients out of pain. We may begin with conservative measures, like cleaning the teeth and rinsing the mouth. Next, we often prescribe antibiotics or medicated mouthwash to thwart infection. Without treatment, infection will spread and can enter the bloodstream, which causes more serious health complications.
For impacted or decayed third molars, or when emerging wisdom teeth cause other teeth to shift and overlap from crowding, wisdom teeth extraction may be the best method of stopping the irritating, painful symptoms.
At-Home Relief While Waiting for Your Visit
To discuss wisdom teeth pain or the possibility of extraction, schedule your appointment at Signature Smile Arts in Homewood, IL, today by calling (708) 799-5353. Call now, before the pain becomes an emergency!
While waiting for your appointment, you can do a few things to ease symptoms at home. For instance, rinse with saltwater multiple times a day, use NSAIDs as directed for pain and inflammation, and try eating only soft foods. Do not use essential oils on your gums, and do not rely on internet hacks for help–these can cause damage and increase pain. Remember, these tips are for temporary relief, and you should see a dentist as soon as possible.
We will help you get out of pain and find long-lasting relief, accompanied by good oral health.
