Wisdom Tooth Pain: What Helps Now and When to Get It Checked
Wisdom tooth pain usually comes from a tooth that’s coming in, is stuck under the gum, or has an infected flap of gum over it. Warm salt water rinses, a cold compress, and an over-the-counter pain reliever can help for now. If the pain lasts more than a few days, or you have swelling, fever, or trouble opening your mouth, call a dentist.
Wisdom teeth (third molars) usually show up between the late teens and mid-twenties, and they don’t always arrive quietly. Here’s what’s behind the ache, what helps right now, and how to know when it’s time to get them looked at.
The Bottom Line
- Common causes: a tooth breaking through the gum, an impacted (stuck) tooth, infected gum tissue, or decay in a hard-to-clean back tooth.
- Salt water rinses, cold compresses, and over-the-counter pain relievers can ease mild pain.
- Swelling, fever, a bad taste, or trouble opening your mouth or swallowing are signs of infection.
- Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling spreading down the neck, means the ER.
- Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. An exam and X-ray help you decide.
What Causes Wisdom Tooth Pain?
- A tooth breaking through. As a wisdom tooth pushes through the gum, the area can feel sore and tender for a few days, a bit like teething.
- An impacted tooth. When there isn’t enough room, a wisdom tooth can get stuck partway or grow in at an angle. It can press on the tooth next to it and cause a dull ache in the jaw. Here’s how to tell if you have impacted wisdom teeth.
- Infected gum (pericoronitis). A flap of gum over a partly erupted tooth can trap food and bacteria, leading to swelling, a bad taste, and pain when you bite.
- Decay or gum disease. Wisdom teeth are hard to reach with a toothbrush, so cavities and gum problems are common.
- Crowding. Some people feel pressure in nearby teeth or their jaw.
Wisdom tooth pain can also spread. Many people feel it in the jaw, ear, or side of the head, or notice a headache.
What Helps Right Now
These tips can ease mild to moderate pain while you arrange a visit.
Rinse with warm salt water
Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish gently around the back of your mouth and spit. Do this a few times a day, especially after eating, to help clear trapped food.
Keep the area clean
Brush gently all the way to the back teeth. A soft brush and careful flossing help remove food stuck under the gum flap.
Use a cold compress
Hold an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel against your cheek for about 15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling and soreness.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help when taken by mouth as the label directs. Check with a pharmacist or doctor first if you have health conditions, take other medicines, or are pregnant.
Eat soft foods and chew on the other side
Soups, eggs, yogurt, and pasta are easier on a sore jaw. Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods near the painful area.
What to avoid
- Don’t put aspirin or a pill on the gum. It can burn the tissue.
- Don’t poke at the gum flap with fingers or sharp objects.
- Don’t use heat if there’s swelling.
- Don’t ignore it if the pain keeps coming back. Recurring pain is often a sign the tooth needs attention.
Signs It’s Time to Call a Dentist
Call for an appointment if you have:
- Pain that lasts more than two or three days, or keeps coming back
- Swollen, red gums around the back tooth
- A bad taste or smell, or pus near the tooth
- Trouble opening your mouth fully
- Swelling in your cheek or jaw
- Fever or swollen glands in your neck
- Pain when biting, or pain spreading to your ear or jaw
Go to the ER right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling that’s spreading quickly down your neck or toward your eye.
Do Wisdom Teeth Always Need to Come Out?
No. Wisdom teeth that have grown in fully, are healthy, and can be cleaned well may be fine to keep. Removal is more often recommended when a wisdom tooth:
- Keeps getting infected
- Is impacted and causing pain or pressing on nearby teeth
- Has decay that can’t be fixed well
- Is causing gum problems or a cyst
At your visit, the dentist will examine the area and take an X-ray to see the position of the tooth and its roots. Then they’ll explain your options, whether that’s treating an infection now, keeping an eye on things, or planning removal. If removal makes sense, our wisdom teeth removal page explains what to expect, and our week-by-week recovery timeline walks you through healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does wisdom tooth pain last?
Pain from a tooth breaking through may ease in a few days. Pain from infection or an impacted tooth often comes back until it’s treated.
Can wisdom tooth pain cause headaches or ear pain?
Yes. The pain can spread to the jaw, ear, and side of the head.
Is wisdom tooth pain an emergency?
Mild soreness usually isn’t. Swelling, fever, or trouble opening your mouth needs a prompt visit, and trouble breathing or swallowing needs the ER.
Can a wisdom tooth be removed the same day?
Sometimes, depending on the tooth, any infection, and the schedule. The dentist will let you know what’s safest for you.
References
Wisdom Tooth Pain? Call Us
If a wisdom tooth is bothering you, call Urgent Dental at (702) 228-1106. We offer same-day appointments when available. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Outside those hours, an after-hours visit may be possible only if a doctor is available, and an after-hours fee applies. Learn more about wisdom teeth removal and our emergency dental services, or request an appointment.
Urgent Dental
340 E Warm Springs Rd STE 100, Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 228-1106
This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional dental or medical advice.
