What to do when you have wisdom teeth pain

Overview

When you contact your dental practice or Health Board for a dental appointment, you MUST tell them if you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID19) OR you are currently self-isolating OR you have possible symptoms.

Dental practices have to comply with social distancing measures so please do not attend without having made an appointment first.

Wisdom teeth, (also called third molars) grow at the back of the mouth and are the last teeth to come through. Most people have four (two top and two bottom) wisdom teeth, although they are commonly missing.

Wisdom teeth usually emerge during the late teens or early twenties. By this time, the other 28 adult teeth are usually in place, so there isn't always room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to grow properly.

Because of the lack of space, wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only partially emerge. Wisdom teeth that grow through like this are known as impacted and are more difficult to keep clean and healthy.

Wisdom tooth pain

Wisdom teeth can cause pain when they are only partially erupted into the mouth. The flap of gum that covers the biting surface of the wisdom tooth in the lower jaw can be difficult to keep clean. This can lead to swelling, inflammation and pain. The swollen flap of gum may get trapped between the teeth and this adds to the pain. Most flare-ups usually settle within 7-10 days and can often be managed at home (see advice below).

Are dental practices open if you need advice or treatment?

Yes, dental practices are open during the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.

If your symptoms do not improve or you develop a facial swelling, you should call your dental practice. They will carry out remote consultation over the phone/video before seeing you in person at the practice if treatment is required.

If you don’t have a regular dentist, call the appropriate dental helpline number for your Local Health Board area.

What can you do at home?

Keep the area as clean as you can to stop food, plaque and bacteria collecting around the wisdom tooth. This will help to stop an infection developing.

To manage a wisdom tooth problem at home, try the following:

  1. Regularly rinse the affected area with warm, salty water or a mouthwash that contains Chlorhexidine, at a separate time to brushing or after eating.
  2. Keep the area clean with a small toothbrush, interspace brush or single tufted brush. Try half-closing your mouth when brushing the back teeth. Relaxing the muscles of the cheek and jaw can allow you to access the wisdom teeth more easily.
  3. Try a soft diet to reduce trauma to the area on biting.
  4. Painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can help to ease pain (following packet instructions). BE CAREFUL not to overdose. Remember that different brand names can contain the same painkiller.

What are the main reasons for taking wisdom teeth out?

Wisdom teeth are only removed when:

  • they are causing repeated pain and it is clear that they will not be able to come through fully in the mouth OR
  • they have only partly come through and are decayed OR
  • other reasons, which dentists can explain (e.g. a cyst around a wisdom tooth)

Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation, there may be a longer wait for removal of wisdom teeth if you require referral to a specialist in another practice or a consultant in hospital.

Are wisdom teeth difficult to take out?

It depends on the position and the shape of the roots. Your dentist will tell you how easy or difficult each tooth will be to remove after seeing you and looking at an x-ray.

What should I expect after a wisdom tooth is taken out?

You can expect some discomfort. The amount of discomfort will depend on how easy it was to remove the wisdom tooth. Removing a wisdom tooth may also cause some swelling for a few days. There may be other risks associated with taking a wisdom tooth out which your dentist/surgeon will explain before taking it out e.g. temporary or permanent numbness of the lip.

The dental team will provide you with advice on mouth care after an extraction.

The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by

What to do when you have wisdom teeth pain
NHS website nhs.uk

The removal of wisdom teeth (or third molars) is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in the UK.

The wisdom teeth grow at the back of your gums and are the last teeth to come through. Most people have 4 wisdom teeth (1 in each corner).

Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teens or early twenties. By this time, the other 28 adult teeth are usually in place, so there isn't always enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to grow properly.

Because of the lack of space, wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only partially emerge. Wisdom teeth that grow through like this are known as impacted.

When to see a dentist

You should make an appointment to see your dentist if your wisdom teeth are causing severe pain. They'll check your teeth and advise you whether they need to be removed.

If your dentist thinks you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed, they'll usually carry out an X-ray of your mouth. This gives them a clearer view of the position of your teeth.

As with any teeth problems, it's important to see your dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for your regular dental check-up.

Find your local dentist

Why are wisdom teeth removed?

Your wisdom teeth don't usually need to be removed if they're impacted but aren't causing any problems. This is because there's no proven benefit of doing this and it carries the risk of complications.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth that have become impacted or haven't fully broken through the surface of the gum can cause dental problems. Food and bacteria can get trapped around the edge of the wisdom teeth, causing a build-up of plaque, which can lead to:

  • tooth decay (dental caries)
  • gum disease (also called gingivitis or periodontal disease)
  • pericoronitis – when plaque causes an infection of the soft tissue that surrounds the tooth
  • cellulitis – a bacterial infection in the cheek, tongue or throat
  • abscess – a collection of pus in your wisdom teeth or the surrounding tissue as a result of a bacterial infection
  • cysts and benign growths – very rarely, a wisdom tooth that hasn't cut through the gum develops a cyst (a fluid-filled swelling)

Many of these problems can be treated with antibiotics and antiseptic mouthwash.

Wisdom teeth removal is usually recommended when other treatments haven't worked.

How wisdom teeth are removed

Your dentist may remove your wisdom teeth, or they may refer you to a specialist surgeon for hospital treatment.

Before the operation, the procedure will usually be explained to you and you may be asked to sign a consent form.

You'll usually be given a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area around the tooth. You'll feel some pressure just before the tooth is removed, as your dentist or oral surgeon needs to widen the tooth socket by rocking the tooth back and forth.

A small cut in the gum is sometimes necessary, and the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces before it's removed.

It takes anything from a few minutes to 20 minutes, or sometimes even longer, to remove a wisdom tooth. 

After your wisdom teeth have been removed, you may have swelling and discomfort, both inside and outside your mouth. Occasionally, some mild bruising is also visible. This is usually worse for the first 3 days, but it can last for up to 2 weeks.

Read more about how a wisdom tooth is removed and recovering from wisdom tooth removal.

Possible complications

As with all surgery, there are risks associated with removing a wisdom tooth. These include infection or delayed healing, both of which are more likely if you smoke during your recovery.

Another possible complication is "dry socket", which is a dull, aching sensation in your gum or jaw, and sometimes a bad smell or taste coming from the empty tooth socket. Dry socket is more likely if you don't follow the after-care instructions given by your dentist.

There's also a small risk of nerve damage, which can cause a tingling or numb sensation in your tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums. This is usually temporary, but in rare cases it can be permanent.

Read more about the possible complications of wisdom tooth removal.

Dental costs

Dentists charge depending on the treatment required, unless you're under 18 or otherwise exempt from NHS charges.

If hospital treatment is required, it will be provided through the NHS free of charge.

Read more about dental costs.

Video: Wisdom teeth

In this video, an expert explains why people have problems with their wisdom teeth and the treatments available.

Media last reviewed: 4 August 2021
Media review due: 4 August 2024

Page last reviewed: 17 May 2021
Next review due: 17 May 2024

How do you get wisdom teeth pain to go away?

Try half-closing your mouth when brushing the back teeth. Relaxing the muscles of the cheek and jaw can allow you to access the wisdom teeth more easily. Try a soft diet to reduce trauma to the area on biting. Painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can help to ease pain (following packet instructions).

How long should wisdom tooth pain last?

It usually takes around two weeks to a month for the socket to heal. The pain will be worse in the first few days after your procedure but it should improve in the coming days.

How can I stop wisdom tooth pain at night?

You should definitely contact your dentist in the morning, but until then, try these five tips for helping you sleep through a toothache at night..
Take an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever. ... .
Use a Cold Compress. ... .
Elevate Your Head. ... .
Watch What You Eat. ... .
Rinse Your Mouth..