Our wisdom teeth are the last four teeth that erupt, and that is why they often cause problems for people later than expected. Wisdom teeth can impact someone at any time from the age of 17 to 25, or maybe even a few years later. If a wisdom tooth does not have enough time to arrive without impact, then it is considered an impacted wisdom tooth. But how can we know the pain we are experiencing is because of our wisdom teeth? Here are some key signs that you have an impacted wisdom tooth.
Symptoms of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Sometimes you will not even feel any symptoms. You could have one or two impacted teeth, and you could have no clue about it. But in most cases, you will experience symptoms. For instance, you will start to experience pain and swelling in your gums. There may even be some bleeding. The jaw could be swollen, while you will find that you have bad breath a lot of the time. Others have a stiff jaw, or swollen lymph nodes in their neck.
Each person is impacted differently. But if you are experiencing a couple of these symptoms, the best thing that you can do is to visit a qualified dentist. Even if the issue is not your wisdom teeth, it is still better to get something of this nature checked out. Then you will know that you are okay.
If the problem does turn out to be your wisdom teeth, a dentist can recommend the next steps. If you leave those teeth impacted, you are running the risk of suffering gum disease or even tooth decay. And that is just going to mean more pain and complications in the future. The wisdom teeth can also start to impact your other teeth, causing infection or overcrowding. Consult with a dentist if you experience pain that could be from impacted wisdom teeth.