Franklin 
If you’ve heard of wisdom teeth, you know these “third molars” are peculiar. Each one is an “extra” tooth you don’t need, a holdover from humanity’s ancient past. With that said, you may wonder whether the aches in wisdom teeth are just as odd; perhaps they have unique sources, solutions, etc. The good news is that your Tyler dentist can address this question. To that end, just keep reading to learn the causes and remedies for wisdom tooth pain.
What Makes Wisdom Teeth Ache?
Wisdom teeth can ache for a wide range of reasons, including:
Cavities
Wisdom teeth may be unique, but they can still decay like your other ones. The resulting cavities will then cause aches and pains.
Erupted wisdom teeth actually face a high risk of tooth decay. Since they grow very close to neighboring teeth, they’re often forced into a tight space. This space is rather hard for a toothbrush to clean, so it can cause wisdom teeth to form cavities that expose dental nerves.
Tooth Impactions
If your wisdom tooth is impacted, it could cause various issues. One such issue happens to be pain.
The problem stems from how impaction works. When a wisdom tooth fails to erupt properly, the nearby areas swell and become sensitive. These effects can lead to aches when chewing or biting, a sore jaw, and even difficulty opening your mouth.
Gum Disease
Aching wisdom teeth don’t always stem from a tooth issue. Sometimes, they can result from a bad case of gum disease.
Don’t forget: wisdom teeth are in the back of your mouth and often lack space. As a result, plaque can easily gather on them and inflame nearby gum tissue. This inflammation can then become an infection, hurting the area around your wisdom teeth.
How Can You Ease the Pain?
Depending on their situation, patients have several ways to ease wisdom tooth pain. The most common ones are:
- A Cold Compress – By placing a cold compress near the aching wisdom tooth, you can dull its pain.
- Pain Relievers – Medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin can control wisdom tooth pain. That said, don’t take more than the recommended dosage.
- Benzocaine – Numbing gels made of benzocaine would numb your tooth pain. In fact, any benzocaine agent could dull the ache in nearby gums.
- Tooth Removal – When all else fails, you could simply have your wisdom tooth removed. Doing so fixes any wisdom tooth problems and prevents future issues.
You can treat your wisdom tooth pain, so don’t give into it. Just use the tips above and see your dental provider for extra help!
About the Practice
Franklin Dental Center is based in Tyler, TX. Led by the fantastic Dr. Franklin-Pitts, our practice is deeply dedicated to helping smilers of all ages. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options that can help kids and seniors alike. Whether you need a dental checkup, dentures, or a wisdom tooth extraction, our team will get the job done! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (903)-730-6314.