Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth pulled in Lexington; however, if your wisdom teeth aren’t coming in properly or you don’t have space for them in your mouth, they can lead to many serious oral health complications.
How do you know if your wisdom teeth need removal? In this blog from Palmetto Dental Associates, we’ll go over six of the most common signs that it’s time to visit Dr. Franklin Shull or Dr. Caroline Thomas for a consult regarding wisdom tooth extraction.
1. Pain and discomfort in the back of your mouth
As your wisdom teeth grow in, they may cause significant pain and discomfort in the back of your mouth. This is especially true if the teeth don’t fully erupt, and become partially “impacted” under the bone and or gum tissue. If you’ve been feeling significant pain in the back of your mouth, it could be due to your wisdom teeth.
2. Discolored, swollen, or bleeding gums
One of the problems with wisdom teeth is that they can make the back of your mouth more crowded and thus make it more difficult to clean. If the wisdom teeth don’t come in properly and are partially trapped under the gums, they can make it harder to clean the back of your mouth, which can lead to gum problems and discomfort. Your gums may look red, swollen, or may bleed easily when you eat or brush.
3. Headaches and earaches
The discomfort caused by wisdom teeth may not stay within your mouth and jaw. The pain can radiate and cause headaches and earaches. Frequent headaches and earaches may indicate a problem with your wisdom teeth.
4. Jaw stiffness or swelling
As your body reacts to your wisdom teeth growing in, your jaw may feel stiff and swollen and it may be harder to chew. Your jaw may even start to swell, particularly if a lot of bacteria have collected in the back of your mouth due to food getting stuck around your erupting wisdom teeth.
Eventually, you may have trouble eating, chewing, speaking, and fully opening your mouth. If you notice your jaw is swollen or that it feels stiff, call Palmetto Dental Associates right away to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Shull or Dr. Thomas.
5. Sinus pain or pressure
As they grow larger and drop down into place, the upper wisdom teeth can put pressure on the sinuses, and cause significant pain or discomfort similar to that felt with a sinus infection. This is especially common if your partially impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected.
6. Bad breath or a foul taste in your mouth
If you notice that you constantly have halitosis (bad breath), or there’s a foul taste in your mouth, this could indicate that you have an infected wisdom tooth. Bacteria smell very bad, so the high levels of bacteria near an infected tooth can cause bad breath.
If something tastes foul in your mouth, this could be due to a buildup of infection caused by an abscessed tooth. An abscess is a serious dental emergency, so if you suspect any signs of infection, you should call Palmetto Dental Associates right away for help.
Worried about your wisdom teeth in Lexington? Contact us for a consultation
At our office, Dr. Shull and Dr. Thomas are experts in dentistry. No matter the situation, we’re here to provide you with the care you need to eliminate pain, restore your oral health, and get you back to your normal day-to-day life. Don’t wait, and don't risk it. If you think you have problems with your wisdom teeth, give us a call at 803-808-0888 or contact us online to schedule a consultation in Lexington right away.