Impacted teeth cause major toothaches
Young adults can still get toothaches despite the fact that they brush and floss regularly. With proper oral hygiene, it can be quite a surprise for some people who suddenly get toothaches. In some cases, erupting wisdom teeth can be the cause of these toothaches.
Wisdom teeth usually start erupting in people aged 17 to 25. These are the third set of molars; in some cases, they do not cause problems. However, most people feel discomfort once a wisdom tooth appears. This is because the new tooth may be impacted, which means that it can grow in a bad position. In effect, someone with impacted tooth feels pain the gums. They'll need toothache relief and accurate treatment.
Moreover, gum pockets may form, and these trap food particles. Because these gum pockets form in hard to reach areas, tooth decay may start. Gum infection may also affect the person with an impacted wisdom tooth. The person may also get bad breath because of this.
A person may have up to four wisdom teeth. A wisdom tooth may also cause a toothache because there is insufficient space in the gums. This then leads to swollen gums, causing even more discomfort to a person. There may be difficulty in opening the mouth because of this.
To provide temporary toothache relief from the discomfort, some people take antibiotics. However, the pain returns after some time. In some cases, the gums surrounding the tooth are cut back, and there is no need for further treatments. This treatment depends the case of the patient, as it is not the best possible option for all.
An erupting wisdom tooth causes much pain, and the common way to stop the pain is to have the tooth removed. However, this is not applicable to all people who have erupting wisdom teeth, as there are cases when it is unnecessary to extract the tooth.
An impacted wisdom tooth is removed through surgery. In some cases, the patient is awake during the operation; local anesthesia is provided during the procedure. In other cases, the patient has to go to the hospital to have the tooth extracted. The patient is given general anesthesia, meaning the patient is asleep while the tooth or teeth are taken out. A dentist or oral surgeon may extract the wisdom tooth.
The procedure is done with the oral surgeon making a cut on the gums. A portion of some bone may have to be removed to clear the space and lift the tooth out. After extracting the tooth, the area is stitched up to help the gums heal. When the anesthetic wears off, the patient may feel soreness in the area. Medication for pain is prescribed to the patient. The oral surgeon will also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections in the affected area.
After the operation, the patient is advised not to brush the affected area. Avoiding hard foods is a must; the patient should stick to soft foods to aid the gums heal. Hot drinks and food should also be avoided, as this aggravates the swelling. Moreover, the patient should avoid drinking alcohol, as well as drinking with a straw.
The extraction of the wisdom is quite painful, but it ends the pain right there. By having the wisdom tooth removed, the patient is assured toothache relief and that there won’t be future toothaches caused by the impacted tooth.