Ever heard of the term wisdom teeth? In fact, wisdom teeth are the four posterior molars (molars). By definition, the four wisdom teeth are located at the very back of your upper and lower row of teeth. Because wisdom teeth are a group of teeth that grow later, you will generally feel symptoms of growth in your late teens or early 20s. In some people, the growth of wisdom teeth does not show any symptoms. But for most people, the growth process can be intensely painful, especially because the teeth don't have enough space in the mouth to grow in the right direction. If you experience symptoms of wisdom teeth growth, immediately see a doctor to make sure there are no dangerous medical problems!
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth
Step 1. Don't always expect symptoms to appear
If wisdom teeth are fully erupted, meaning that they are upright and have enough space so they don't push against other teeth, chances are that pain or inflammation will not appear. As a result, wisdom teeth do not need to be extracted. On the other hand, if wisdom teeth are only partially erupted, don't have enough room to grow, grow in a crooked position, and/or have an infection, there's a good chance that they will develop problems and cause symptoms.
- Not everyone experiences perfect wisdom teeth growth. Sometimes, wisdom teeth will be hidden behind the gums and jawbone, or only partially visible.
- The United States Dental Association recommends adolescents aged 16 to 19 years to have their wisdom teeth checked by a doctor.
- After the age of 18, the longer wisdom teeth stay in your mouth, the stronger their roots will become. As a result, the teeth will be even more difficult to remove if the growth is problematic.
Step 2. Identify the presence or absence of pain in the gums or jaw
Although progressing normally and perfectly, the growth of wisdom teeth can also cause moderate symptoms. To find out, try to identify the presence or absence of moderate-intensity pain, pressure, or mild stabbing in the gum area around the throat or jawbone closest to the wisdom tooth. Wisdom teeth can also irritate the gum-forming tissue (called the gingiva). The pain that appears will actually feel more intense if the wisdom tooth grows in a tilted position and does not have enough room to grow. As a result, the teeth will penetrate the soft gum tissue and cause pain. Because everyone's tolerance for pain is different, pain that may be mild to another may be intense to you. What needs to be underlined, pain is a very normal side effect when wisdom teeth are growing. Therefore, be patient for at least a few days before seeing a doctor.
- Wisdom tooth eruption is not sustainable. That's why, you may experience the same pain for a few days, every three to five months. The growth of wisdom teeth will also affect the position of the bone in the other teeth, so you may notice changes in the position of the other teeth.
- If the growth is not complete, wisdom teeth may become trapped or impacted between the jawbones. These conditions can increase the risk of oral infection (read more information in the next section).
- The pain of wisdom teeth growth can be worse at night, especially if you are used to grinding your jaw and/or molars.
- Chewing gum can also increase the intensity of pain due to the growth of wisdom teeth.
Step 3. Watch for swelling and redness of the gums
The growth of wisdom teeth can also trigger swelling and redness (inflammation) of the gums, you know! Generally, the swelling will be felt when traced by the tongue. In addition, you will feel uncomfortable or have difficulty chewing food if your gums are inflamed. If possible, grab a flashlight and try to light the inside of your mouth in the mirror. As previously explained, wisdom teeth are the last teeth in your upper and lower teeth. After that, try to see if the surrounding gum tissue looks redder or more swollen than the rest of the area. This condition is known as gingivitis, and it usually goes away on its own after about a week.
- When you examine the inside of your mouth, you may notice a small amount of blood around the erupting wisdom teeth. Or, your saliva may turn slightly red. This condition is not uncommon, but it may occur. Other causes of the appearance of blood are gum disease, canker sores, or oral trauma.
- You may also find a layer of gum that covers the wisdom teeth and is known as a pericoronal flap. This condition is completely normal and generally won't cause any problems.
- If the back gum area is swollen, you will most likely find it difficult to open your mouth. Most likely, you will also have to drink fluids with the help of a straw for a few days.
- In addition, you may also have difficulty chewing. To overcome this, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to be consumed for several days.
- Due to the location of the lower wisdom teeth close to the tonsils, the growth of wisdom teeth can make the tonsils swell and cause symptoms that resemble strep throat.
Part 2 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Advanced Wisdom Teeth
Step 1. Be aware of possible infections
Wisdom teeth that do not develop properly (known as impaction) and grow in an oblique position can significantly increase the risk of oral infection. In particular, an impacted, tilted tooth will create a small cavity behind the pericoronal flap. As a result, the cavity is also used by bacteria to multiply and grow. Some of the most common symptoms of wisdom tooth infection are swelling of the gums, intense pain, low-grade fever, swelling of the lymph nodes around the neck and jaw, discharge of pus from the inflamed tissue, bad breath, and a strange or unpleasant taste. good in the mouth.
- Pain that appears due to infection in wisdom teeth will generally feel constant, and occasionally accompanied by a stabbing pain.
- Pus is a grayish-white fluid made of white blood cells in your immune system. Specifically, these cells will appear at the site of infection to kill bacteria. After the task is complete, the white blood cells will die and transform into pus.
- Bad breath can also be caused by food trapped and rotting behind the pericoronal flap.
Step 2. Check the position of the surrounding teeth
Even if the wisdom tooth grows sideways and is impacted in the jawbone area, it is likely that pain or other noticeable symptoms will not appear. However, after a while (even a few weeks), the wisdom teeth will start to push the teeth on the side to “get out” of the ground. Sooner or later, the domino effect can make your front teeth look crooked or crooked! If you feel that you are experiencing this condition, try comparing your smile in the latest photo with the previous photos.
- If the wisdom tooth is pushing too much on the side of the tooth, your doctor will most likely ask you to have a dental extraction or surgery performed.
- After wisdom teeth are removed or operated on, the arrangement of the surrounding teeth will naturally improve after a few weeks or months.
Step 3. Understand that chronic swelling and pain is not normal
Although short-term inflammation and pain are common with wisdom teeth, chronic pain and swelling is something you should be aware of! Remember, pain or swelling caused by incomplete growth of wisdom teeth will generally only last for a few weeks. If these two conditions do not subside, it is likely that the wisdom teeth around the jawbone have been impacted. Remember, impacted wisdom teeth can cause severe negative symptoms that must be removed immediately.
- People with small mouths and jaws are at a higher risk of experiencing intense swelling and pain from impaction.
- Although impacted wisdom teeth do not cause immediate symptoms, they can lead to decay in the teeth or surrounding gum tissue. As a result, long-term pain can no longer be avoided.
- See a doctor if your patience and tolerance for pain has run out. In general, you should see your doctor if the pain makes it difficult for you to fall asleep without medication at night for three to five days.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with the Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth
Step 1. Massage the gums with your fingers and a little ice cubes
Gently massage the gums with clean, sterile fingers in a circular motion to temporarily relieve pain from inflammation. Do not rub the gums too vigorously as doing so can damage the pericoronal flap and increase the intensity of irritation, swelling, and/or bleeding. If the pain that appears is no longer tolerable, try compressing it with small ice cubes to reduce inflammation and make it slightly numb. While the freezing temperatures may surprise you, understand that an ice cube can numb the tissue around wisdom teeth in as little as five minutes. You can apply this method three to five times a day, or as often as needed to relieve the pain.
- Don't forget to trim your nails and sterilize them with alcohol to prevent the transfer of bacteria to your gums. Be careful, the condition of infected wisdom teeth can get worse if your oral hygiene is not maintained properly.
- Ask your dentist for a recommendation for a cream or ointment that you can massage into your inflamed gums and temporarily numb them.
- Using cold compresses and sucking on frozen foods (such as popsicles, sorbets, or ice cream) can also help relieve gum pain.
Step 2. Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications
In particular, ibuprofen such as Advil and Motrin are anti-inflammatory drugs that are very effective against the pain and swelling of symptomatic wisdom teeth. In addition, you can also take acetaminophen such as Tylenol which is able to relieve pain, and functions as an antipyretic (can reduce fever), but is not able to reduce the inflammation that occurs. For adults, the maximum daily dose of ibuprofen and acetaminophen is about 3,000 mg or 3 grams. However, keep reading the instructions for use listed on the drug packaging to find out the accurate information.
- Taking excessive amounts of ibuprofen (or for too long) can irritate and damage your stomach and kidneys. That's why, ibuprofen should always be taken after meals!
- If consumed in excessive amounts, acetaminophen can be toxic that can damage your liver health. That's why acetaminophen should never be taken with alcohol!
Step 3. Use an antiseptic mouthwash
Antiseptic or antibacterial mouthwashes can help treat or prevent infection, as well as relieve pain that appears in the gums and teeth. For example, a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can help relieve pain and swelling that appears, and keep the mouth free of infection. Try asking your dentist or pharmacist for recommendations for over-the-counter mouthwash. Regardless of the brand, make sure the medicine is used to rinse your mouth for at least 30 days, and make sure the mouthwash touches the area at the back of your mouth where your wisdom teeth are growing.
- Gargle around the pericoronal flap to remove any food residue, plaque, or debris trapped there.
- Make a natural antiseptic mouthwash by mixing a glass of warm water with tsp. table salt or sea salt. Gargle with the solution for 30 seconds before spitting it out. Do the process three to five times a day, or as often as needed.
- Try gargling with diluted vinegar, fresh lemon juice, diluted hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture of water with a few drops of iodine to fight infections in the mouth.
- Wormwood tea is also a good natural remedy to treat inflammation of the gums.
Tips
- Remember, wisdom teeth do not need to be used to chew food. In other words, the other front and back molars are also enough to break down the food in your mouth.
- If the condition of the wisdom teeth becomes symptomatic, immediately do an X-ray scan at the nearest dental clinic to identify the possibility of the tooth having severe impaction problems, pressing on the nerves, or affecting the health of other teeth.
Warning
- Wisdom teeth need to be extracted or operated on if there is increased pain intensity, recurrent infections, gum disease, tooth decay, damage or curvature of the surrounding teeth, and the appearance of cysts or benign tumors.
- Newly erupted wisdom teeth can change the perfect alignment of your teeth, and you may need the help of a dentist to realign them. In some cases, the improper direction of growth of wisdom teeth due to lack of space in the mouth can also make your teeth look crooked or crooked.
- Be aware of the risk of recurring headaches due to the growth of wisdom teeth. In particular, this risk may occur because the growth of wisdom teeth can cause your bites to become out of alignment, and cause pain in your jaw and skull.
