Can an impacted wisdom tooth fix itself?
It might come as a surprise to you but no, not all impacted wisdom teeth necessarily need to be removed. It’s certainly possible that a person who has one, or even all four of theirs, will live their entire life without ever experiencing any problems at all.
What can you do for impacted wisdom teeth?
Home remedies
- Impacted wisdom teeth may cause pain, aches, and tenderness.
- A numbing dental gel may help reduce feeling in the gums and dull the pain.
- Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter pain relief medication that helps reduce inflammation.
Do impacted wisdom teeth hurt?
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they’re hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are.
What happens if you don’t remove impacted wisdom teeth?
Impacted wisdom teeth can be very painful and may be prone to abscess and infection. The impaction can lead to decay and resorption of healthy teeth. On occasion, if wisdom teeth are not monitored properly, their growth can shift parallel to the jaw line.
Why is my wisdom tooth impacted?
Wisdom teeth usually become impacted because the jaw doesn’t have enough space for all the teeth that are growing in, or because the tooth comes in at the wrong angle and bumps into the tooth in front of it. Although some people never have any trouble with them, impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems.
What happens if you ignore impacted wisdom teeth?
When you ignore wisdom tooth pain, your chance of developing cavities increases. A bacterial infection can develop, which causes inflammation and swelling of the gums. If left untreated, the infection must be treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, oral surgery to remove the gum flap may be required.
What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:
- Red or swollen gums.
- Tender or bleeding gums.
- Jaw pain.
- Swelling around the jaw.
- Bad breath.
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth.
- Difficulty opening your mouth.
How serious is an impacted wisdom tooth?