What are wisdom teeth? Your third molars, right? That much everyone knows. They come in when you’re around 17- and 25-years-old. It happens when you’re not a teenager anymore, you know? They get their name because they come when you’re supposedly wiser—older, at least. With age, intellect comes the pain; wisdom teeth bring pain to many of us. When they start coming in, they bring along a lot of signs. Here are 5 common signs that your wisdom tooth is on its way.

1. Pain: First Sign to Know

So, around which area does it pain the most?

1. Back of your mouth
2. Near your molars

The pain can sometimes be:

1. SHARP
2. DULL

You will feel it, that is for sure, because your tooth is pushing through the gums, causing immense pressure on your gums. The gums are not ready for a tooth, so they hurt. The pain can feel bad, it can last for a few days, and it can make eating or talking hard. If your wisdom tooth doesn’t have space, it can get stuck and cause more pain.

Some people feel pain only sometimes, but for others, the pain never stops. There are chances that your wisdom teeth will come straight in that case, pain will be less. But if the tooth is coming sideways or in the wrong direction, then the pain will be worse.

2. Redness in Gums

As the wisdom teeth start erupting, your gums will become more red and swollen. This is normal. The gums hurt, and sometimes they will bleed. Redness happens because the tooth is pushing up, and the gums are trying to protect themselves.

If this redness doesn’t go away in a few days, it means infection. When this happens, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible.

There are times when your gum can cover the tooth, which causes the food and bacteria to get trapped. This situation makes things worse, causing infection and making your breath smell bad.

3. Swelling Around Tooth Area

Swelling is also the most common sign of your wisdom tooth erupting. When a wisdom tooth comes out, the area around it swells up. This swelling can happen on top, bottom, or both. Your face can get puffy. This is due to swelling. This will make it difficult for you to open your mouth fully. It will also make chewing or talking uncomfortable. Swelling happens because your body is reacting to the new tooth pushing up. The swelling might make you feel uncomfortable.

Swelling is painful and uncomfortable. To reduce swelling, you can use ice or a cold compress on your face. Painkillers like ibuprofen can also help. But you should also keep checking with a dentist to make sure everything is okay.

4. Sensitivity in Teeth and Gums

There is chance that when a wisdom tooth is erupting, your other teeth might feel sensitive. You might feel pain or discomfort when you have something hot, cold or sweet food. This is because the gums around the wisdom tooth are still soft and not healed properly. You might feel pain when you touch the nearby area or when you brush. The tooth takes time to fully grow out of the gums.

This sensitivity will not last forever. After a few weeks, when the tooth is fully out, the sensitivity will go away. But during this time, you have to be careful with hot or cold food.

This sensitivity can be worse at times when the tooth comes out at the wrong angle. This is worse when a wisdom tooth is pushing against other teeth, as it causes more sensitivity. If you are in such a situation, you should see the dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can help fix the problem if it’s serious.

5. Pain Going to Other Parts of Face

Sometimes, pain from a wisdom tooth doesn’t stay just in your mouth. It travels to other parts of your face.

The areas where your pain can travel to are:

• Neck
• Jaw
• Temples
• Ears

This is because the nerves are connected. This can confuse a lot of people, as you might not know if it’s from a wisdom tooth or something else. But most of the time, when the pain starts in your mouth and spreads to other areas, it is your wisdom tooth. You can feel a deep ache or a sharp pain. You can face difficulty focusing, and usually, when pain spreads, it is a sign that the tooth is pushing up a lot.

Other Signs: Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Upper vs. Lower Wisdom Teeth: Different Symptoms

It’s also important to know the difference between the upper and lower wisdom teeth. The symptoms can feel different depending on which tooth is coming out.

Upper Wisdom Teeth

When upper wisdom teeth are coming out, you will feel pain mostly in your cheek area. The pain will move upwards toward your temple or even your sinus. The discomfort is more in the upper face.

Lower Wisdom Teeth

When lower wisdom teeth erupt, the pain will mostly be in your jaw or neck. You can feel the pain going down toward your neck or chin area. The pain may also spread to your lower jaw.

So, the area where you feel pain can help you know which wisdom tooth is coming out. You may also feel that pain is stronger on one side of your face, depending on which tooth is erupting.

What to Do When Wisdom Teeth Are Coming

If your wisdom tooth is coming out, you have two choices:

Option 1: Let It Erupt Naturally

If your wisdom tooth has enough space and it’s not causing too much pain, you can wait. We have seen that a few people do not have issues with wisdom teeth. For minor pain, you can try ice packs or pain meds to control it. The main thing you need to do is keep the area clean to avoid infection. If you can bear the pain, it is completely normal to wait for the wisdom tooth to come through.

You can also see a dentist for check-ups to see if the tooth is coming out well. They will tell you if you need treatment later or if it’s okay to let the tooth come out slowly.

Option 2: See a Dentist

You may need to see a dentist when:

• Pain is too much to handle
• The tooth is coming out at a bad angle
• A wisdom tooth does not have enough space, and it is stuck under the gum (impacted wisdom tooth)

In the case where the wisdom tooth is impacted, your dentist might certainly suggest tooth removal.

Wisdom tooth removal is a common surgery. Your dentist will decide if it’s needed. If the pain and swelling are too much, removing the tooth might be the best choice.