Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to come in and on average, erupt in your late teens and early twenties. When your wisdom tooth is impacted, it means that the tooth doesn’t have enough space when it is coming in so it comes out partially, twisted, or at an angle. Your wisdom teeth can be impacted before they even come out. It’s important to recognize the symptoms so that your dentist can correct the issue before the rest of your teeth get affected.
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
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Swollen/Bleeding Gums
If your gums are red, swollen and/or sensitive to the touch, you probably have a gum infection. This infection could be caused by impacted wisdom teeth. If your gums are bleeding, you should get treatment immediately since it is a very severe symptom.
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Swollen Jaw/Lymph Nodes in Neck
If your jaw or the lymph nodes in your neck show swelling for no apparent cause, get checked out to see if it’s due to your wisdom teeth. Sometimes your jaw may even feel stiff and painful.
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Headache/Jaw-ache (General Toothache)
If you notice that you have a persistent ache from your teeth to your jaws and up to your head, it’s something that should be looked at by your dentist. It’s most likely tooth related if all three ache at the same time.
Other general signs to watch out for are pain and bad breath. Those symptoms by themselves might not be that helpful, but if seen with the above symptoms, it is best to get it looked at as soon as possible.
Dr. Lorraine Burio of Candlewood Dental Care has been educating and treating patients for over twenty-five years. Our office serves the New Fairfield, New Milford, Danbury, and Sherman areas of CT and Pawling, Patterson and Putnam Lake of New York. If you have any questions you can call us at 203-746-1200 or make an appointment here.