It isn't always obvious when you have impacted wisdom teeth, but if you are starting to notice signs of discomfort and concern, you want to get to a dentist or oral health professional right away. If you know that you still have your wisdom teeth and they have never come through the gum tissue, there is a chance that they could be impacted and growing or pushing through the wrong direction.
There are a lot of different signs that may have started subtle but could be very concerning. Here are some indicators to look for that you have impacted and potentially infected wisdom teeth.
Your Jaw Is Feeling Stiff
If you have noticed stiffness in your jaw and it is gradually starting to get worse and take over your jaw movements, this can be an indication that your wisdom teeth are impacted. As they press into the bone, tissues, and muscles into the mouth, they can cause irritation, stiffness, and pain. This is something to mention to a dental professional right away.
There Is Burning Pain
Burning pain is an indication that you have an infection beginning, and this could be in the tissues where the teeth are impacted. Signs that you have an infection would also include fever, extreme tenderness in the area, and the area feeling warm. Having a strange taste in your mouth is also a sign of infection and could be in addition to the burning pain.
You See Inflammation
Swelling and inflammation that you can see when you look in the mirror or that others can notice is a sign of impaction. If your tissues and mouth or jaw are that swollen, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory probably won't be enough to curb the swelling or the pain. You want to ice until you can get in to see the oral health professional.
If there is an infection it needs to be treated quickly. An infection that goes without treatment could get into the blood stream, and in rare cases, it could even be fatal. Also, the wisdom teeth can't be removed until the infection in the mouth has been treated.
If you had these subtle symptoms and they are getting worse and more painful, it's time to see a dentist or an oral surgeon to find out if the wisdom teeth are impacted and if you are at risk for damage to your other teeth. From there you can get the treatment you need.
To learn more about wisdom teeth, contact a dentist.
Our oral surgery and general dental website offers important information on how to prevent dry socket following a tooth extraction. After getting your tooth pulled, a protective blood clot develops over the extraction site. Many of our blog posts explain how this protective clot helps promote healing after an extraction.
You'll learn that if the clot is accidentally dislodged, dry socket may occur, which can raise your risk for infection and heavy bleeding. We'll provide you with important tips on how to prevent this by avoiding smoking and drinking through a straw. You'll also learn that swishing water around your mouth should be avoided for a couple of days following your extraction because doing so creates a suction that may dislodge your clot, leading to dry socket.