What does wisdom teeth pain feel like?

What the pain usually feels like

Healthline says the pain of wisdom teeth coming in is usually mild, with an occasional sharp stab, and that chewing near the emerging tooth can be uncomfortable. It may start mild and come and go, and the gums at the back of your mouth may hurt for a few days and then settle. Cleveland Clinic lists pain or swelling in the jaw or face, and says pain can radiate to the jaw, face and head.

Signs wisdom teeth are coming in

Healthline lists the common signs, and says gum swelling typically appears behind the second molars.

• Swollen gums at the very back of the mouth.
• Jaw pain or stiffness.
• Tender or bleeding gums.
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide.
• A bad taste or bad breath.
• A low-grade fever when a tooth is breaking through, and a small flap of gum over the emerging tooth.

What a wisdom tooth coming in looks like

You may see a small swollen area of gum behind your last molar, or a flap of gum partly covering the tooth. In many people a wisdom tooth cannot be seen at all until a dentist takes an X-ray, because it is trapped under the gum or bone. Healthline says a panoramic X-ray can show the position of your wisdom teeth and whether they are close to coming in.

How do I know if I have wisdom teeth?

Cleveland Clinic says people have four wisdom teeth, one in each back corner of the mouth, but not everyone gets all four to come in. It says about 8 in 10 people have at least one that does not come in. Healthline cites estimates that 5 to 37 percent of people are missing one or more third molars, so the sources disagree on how common it is. Having none, some or all four is considered normal.

Because many are hidden, symptoms are an unreliable guide. A dentist can tell with an exam and an X-ray, and Healthline notes that many people have no symptoms at all.

When the pain is a problem

Healthline describes pericoronitis, an infection that can develop when a partly emerged tooth leaves bacteria trapped under the gum flap, which can become painful and swollen. Healthline's wisdom tooth jaw pain page lists partial eruption, impaction and misalignment as causes of pain and stiffness, and notes that healthy, correctly positioned wisdom teeth usually cause no pain.

Cleveland Clinic lists complications of impacted wisdom teeth, including pain, infection, abscesses, tooth decay, gum disease and damage to neighboring teeth.

What the dentist will do

A dentist will examine your mouth, ask about your symptoms and usually take dental X-rays. Cleveland Clinic says removal is usually recommended if the teeth cause pain, infection or damage, and that if they cause no problems it is often unnecessary. For impacted teeth that cause no symptoms, Healthline says the evidence is limited, so the decision rests with the patient and dentist, and the teeth should be checked regularly if left in place.

Easing discomfort while you wait for an appointment

Healthline's wisdom tooth jaw pain page suggests an ice pack on the cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, and an over-the-counter pain reliever used as directed. These do not treat the cause. Keeping the area clean matters: Healthline's page on wisdom teeth headaches lists warm salt water rinses and good oral hygiene. Do not use home measures to delay an appointment if you have swelling, fever or worsening pain.

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