Wisdom teeth are so-named as they tend to make an appearance in our later years. Even in your 40s and 50s, you can still experience complications with wisdom teeth, including infections and partial eruptions (when wisdom teeth get partially stuck in the gum). 

When to see a dentist about wisdom teeth

If you’re experiencing:

• Swelling

• A bad taste in your mouth

• Bleeding around the tooth

• Intense pain around the tooth

It’s time to see your dentist.

We recommend seeing a dentist after 2 to 3 days of these symptoms persisting.

They will use a scaler and a syringe to get right underneath the gum and give the area a thorough cleaning. Anaesthetic is applied to the site, so you should feel some pressure whilst your dentist performs the treatment, but generally, it isn’t painful.

I’m nervous – how do I find a dentist who will painlessly treat my wisdom tooth pain?

If you’re really nervous, multiple dental practices offer sedation to help you relax – one of our dentists at Nova Smiles can help you find a dentist offering sedation if you need a good recommendation (finding a dentist offering sedation in rural areas of the country can be tricky without advice).

In very rare cases if there is a lot of gum swelling your dentist may want to cut the gum back which will make it easier to clean the area. This is performed under local anaesthetic, so you won’t feel anything as your dentist addresses the swelling.

If your dentist notices the area is infected and that the infection is spreading, then they may prescribe you a course of antibiotics to take. It’s important that you take the whole course, as wisdom tooth infections are tenacious – give them an inch to cause more problems, and they will!

Can I take care of wisdom tooth problems myself at home?

Failing to undergo dental treatment when you have an impacted wisdom tooth can result in:

Pericoronitis: when your wisdom tooth comes through and the gum around the wisdom tooth becomes loose and traps food.

Bad breath: bad breath is a symptom of pericoronitis.

Tooth decay: the position of wisdom teeth when they are impacted make them challenging to clean. This can eventually cause decay.

Whilst there are some actions you can take at home to care for impacted wisdom teeth, you are likely to need a dentist eventually. To soothe pain and inflammation, you can:

• Apply a cold compress to the tooth (on the outside of your mouth – never on the inside).

• Do a saltwater rinse to help with wound healing and to remove debris.

Ideally, you should see a dentist as soon as your wisdom teeth start to come through, to make sure nothing is awry with the way they’re erupting. Not only can this give you peace of mind, it can save you having to experience the unpleasant and common symptoms associated with wisdom tooth eruption.

Ask a dentist about your wisdom teeth today

The dentists at Nova Smiles can offer free advice on how to look after wisdom teeth.

Simply contact them using this form, and you’ll get a response within 24 hours.