The eruption of your first wisdom tooth can cause dire, ongoing pain when it doesn't push through your gums properly, according to the Columbia University School of Dental Medicine. This occurs simply because your jaw isn't broad enough to allow wisdom teeth to come in fully, or when they partially erupt. Gum pain and other problems associated with wisdom teeth, such as crowding of the other teeth, may not resolve until the wisdom teeth are extracted.
Wisdom Teeth History
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last four permanent teeth to erupt, generally between the ages of 17 and 25–the "age of wisdom." According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), wisdom teeth served our distant ancestors well. Anthropologists point to the coarse diet that caused dental wear and tear on the teeth, making the extra wisdom teeth beneficial. As our diet became softer and humans evolved with a fuller dental arch and smaller jaw, little room remained for wisdom teeth to emerge without causing problems.
Wisdom Teeth Impaction
Lacking room to erupt, wisdom teeth become impacted due to the unavailability of space in your mouth, which is further compromised by the overlying gum, bones and other teeth, states the AAOMS. The wisdom teeth may remain in your gums, emerge partially or grow in at an unwieldy angle, according to the National Institutes of Health. A wisdom tooth that only partially peeps out of your gum can trap plaque, food and other infection-causing substances in the gum tissue surrounding it. Inflamed, tender gums can lead to a condition called pericoronitis.
Pericoronitis
Pericoronitis is characterized by swelling of the gums in the area of your wisdom teeth. You might not be able to bite down or completely open your month. You may also notice that your mouth tastes bad–and that your breath has an unpleasant smell. The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine suggests simply rinsing your mouth gently with warm salt water. Avoid applying warm compresses to your jaw, however. Pericoronitis stays put until the wisdom tooth or teeth come in fully, the tooth is extracted or the flap of tissue around the tooth is removed.
Other Problems with Wisdom Teeth
If wisdom teeth become infected, you may run into more troublesome complications, according to the AAOMS. The sac around an impacted tooth may become filled with fluid and grow into a cyst. This can damage neighboring teeth, as well as your jawbone. In rare instances, the cyst can turn into a tumor. Surgery is required to remove it.
Extraction
Even if your wisdom teeth come in completely and seem to pose no problems, there may be trouble ahead, cautions the AAOMS, which goes on to say that third molars that grow in normally are just as at risk for disease as those that are impacted. Around 85 percent of wisdom teeth eventually need to be removed, preferably when you're a young adult, says the AAOMS. The roots of your wisdom teeth become longer as you age, making removal more cumbersome. Impacted wisdom teeth that remain in your mouth put you more at risk for periodontitis–advanced gum disease.
