Why Do My Wisdom Teeth Hurt?
Discomfort, swelling, or tenderness behind the back molars most often points to wisdom tooth issues. Even if a tooth isn’t visible above the gums, it’s important to have it evaluated by our 24-hour dentist at Yuba City Dentistry Group. Every toothache deserves careful attention to rule out serious problems.
Unfortunately, infections can lead to wisdom tooth pain, but the most frequent cause of pain is impaction — when a wisdom tooth is stuck under the gums, blocked by another tooth.
What to Do Until You See the Dentist
- Rinse with warm saltwater to soothe irritation and clean the area.
- Apply a cold compress to the jaw near the sore tooth for 15 minutes at a time to help with inflammation.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed to reduce pain.
- Call Yuba City Dentistry Group at (530) 803-4977 for emergency care.
Lasting Relief Requires Treatment
Temporary remedies can ease discomfort, but to ensure long-term pain relief, determining and treating the cause of your tooth pain is necessary. This may mean that tooth extraction or oral surgery is recommended.
Stop Wisdom Tooth Pain – Available 24/7
You should never ignore pain in wisdom teeth because it often signals a larger problem. At Yuba City Dentistry Group, we will perform an exam and x-ray to help determine the best treatment plan for your lasting comfort. Contact us anytime to get started on the path to relief.
Schedule A Wisdom Tooth Consultation
Wisdom Tooth Pain FAQs
What causes wisdom tooth pain?
A partially erupted tooth, at times, traps bacteria and food under the gum flap (pericoronitis). Other causes of wisdom tooth pain include impaction against the second molar, decay, or pressure as the tooth erupts.
Do I always need my wisdom teeth removed?
No, not always. Wisdom teeth extraction is typically only recommended when the teeth are impacted, you are experiencing repeated infections, or there is damage to nearby teeth. If the teeth are healthy, fully erupted, and easy to keep clean, they may only need to be monitored.
Can I treat pericoronitis at home?
You can calm pericoronitis symptoms with warm saltwater rinses, careful hygiene, and OTC pain medicine. However, only a professional dental exam and treatment will provide you with long-term prevention of repeat flare-ups.
Will antibiotics fix wisdom tooth pain?
Antibiotics may help if an infection is spreading or accompanied by fever or extreme fatigue, but they are not a cure on their own. Professional diagnosis and treatment, such as a cleaning or extraction, is what treats the source of the problem and provides lasting pain relief.
What are the risks of keeping impacted wisdom teeth?
Keeping impacted wisdom teeth puts you at risk of recurring infections, cavities on adjacent teeth, cyst development, or gum issues behind the second molar. We will review your imaging and explain all the benefits versus risks of the recommended treatment.
How is recovery after removal?
We provide clear after-care instructions so that most patients recover comfortably with rest, temporary gauze use to reduce bleeding, ice packs to help with inflammation, and a soft diet that will not irritate the surgical site for a few days.
