There is a lot of talk about wisdom teeth and whether or not they should be removed. In some cases, it’s necessary to remove wisdom teeth because there is an apparent issue with them, such as when they become impacted. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, the jaw bone or neighboring teeth are blocking the teeth from erupting. The teeth become trapped in place as their roots continue to grow. The longer the teeth remain impacted, the more likely they are to cause problems for your oral and your overall health.
Here are the three warning signs of impacted wisdom teeth:
Pain In Mouth and Jawbone
Pain in the mouth and jawbone can be a clear indicator of an impacted wisdom tooth. If the teeth and roots have nowhere to go in the mouth, they will put stress on neighboring teeth and jaw causing pain.
Foul Breath and Taste In Mouth
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection in the mouth, which can cause a foul taste in the mouth or foul breath. If you notice persistent foul breath coupled with pain in the jaw, this is a good indicator that you may have an impacted wisdom tooth.
Redness And Swelling
Swelling and redness in the back of the mouth can be a good sign that there is an impacted wisdom tooth. The area will feel tender and painful because the wisdom tooth is trying to break the surface of the gum, but not able to.
If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can breed cysts and, in very rare cases, tumors. It’s important to talk to your dentist if you think that you may have an impacted wisdom tooth so that the tooth or teeth can be removed before larger problems occur.
Leave a Reply