If your teen or young adult complains of a bad taste in their mouth or sore gums in the back, an impacted wisdom tooth may be the culprit. In a perfect world, wisdom teeth grow in straight and help chew food. But most patients don’t have enough space for four additional large molars.
When wisdom teeth don’t have room or the right angle to come in, they can get impacted beneath the gums.
Here is what happens inside your mouth when a wisdom tooth gets stuck beneath the surface.
1. Bacteria Build Up in Hidden Gum Pockets
When a tooth can’t erupt fully, it leaves an open pathway through the gums, offerin the perfect hiding space for bacteria and food. Regular tooth brushing cannot reach this space, allowing the bacteria to fester. As bacteria multiply in the pocket, you may experience persistent bad breath and a sour taste that mouthwash won’t fix.
2. Cysts Can Form Deep Inside the Jawbone
Every wisdom tooth grows inside a developmental sac beneath your gums. Fluid will slowly fill the sac, eventually forming a cyst. Over time, the cyst expands and then carves out an area of jawbone issue. Removing the trapped tooth removes the sac and protects your jawbone structure.
3. Pain Spreads Up to the Head and Neck
Soreness in the back of your mouth is only one symptom of an impacted wisdom tooth. Swelling and pressure can irritate nearby facial nerves, radiating pain to your temples, ear, and neck. Many patients who come to our office with an earache or tension headache soon discover that a trapped wisdom tooth is the cause.
Read more: Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth You Shouldn’t Ignore
Schedule Your Wisdom Tooth Consultation in Indianapolis, Carmel, or Danville
Removal is the best remedy for an impacted wisdom tooth, but we can often avoid the issue with preventive removal. The key is to know how your wisdom teeth are positioned, and our dentist in Indianapolis at Cornerstone Family Dentistry is here to help. We use gentle digital imaging to evaluate your jaw and help you choose what’s best for your comfort.
Call us at 317-849-0900 to schedule a wisdom tooth removal in Indianapolis, Carmel, or Danville.
