How to Tell If Your Wisdom Teeth Are Causing Problems
For some people, wisdom teeth come in without causing any trouble at all. For many others, they become a real problem, and the tricky part is that serious issues can develop quietly, long before noticeable pain kicks in.
So how do you know if your wisdom teeth need attention? Here are the most common signs we see in patients who visit our Jacksonville office, along with what they mean and what to do about them.
1. Pain or Pressure at the Back of Your Mouth
One of the most obvious signs is persistent pain or pressure in the back corners of your jaw, the area where wisdom teeth are trying to erupt. This discomfort may come and go, or it may be steady and worsening. It can radiate to your jaw, ear, or even your temples.
If you are regularly reaching for pain relievers because of back‑of‑mouth soreness, that is your body telling you something is not right back there.
2. Swollen, Red, or Bleeding Gums Near the Back Teeth
Inflammation around the gum tissue where a wisdom tooth is partially erupted is extremely common. This condition, called pericoronitis, happens when bacteria get trapped under the flap of gum tissue covering a tooth that has not fully come in. It can cause swelling, redness, a bad taste in your mouth, and difficulty opening your jaw fully.
Even if the pain is mild, pericoronitis is a sign that your wisdom tooth is creating a recurring infection risk, and that is worth addressing sooner rather than later.
3. Crowding or Shifting of Your Other Teeth
Wisdom teeth pushing against neighboring teeth can create pressure that shifts your existing teeth out of alignment, even teeth far from the back of your mouth. If you have noticed your front teeth feeling more crowded than they used to, or your bite feels slightly off, wisdom teeth could be a contributing factor.
This is especially important for patients who have had orthodontic treatment. Wisdom teeth can undo years of work if they are pushing against a now‑straight bite.
4. Difficulty Chewing or Opening Your Mouth
Jaw stiffness, difficulty chewing on one side, or a reduced ability to open your mouth fully can all be related to wisdom tooth problems. Swelling from infection or inflammation around impacted teeth can make the muscles and joints of the jaw feel tight and painful.
5. A Cyst or Unusual Feeling in the Jaw
Impacted wisdom teeth can develop fluid‑filled sacs called cysts around the tooth crown beneath the gumline. You may not feel a cyst forming, but it can silently damage the surrounding bone and adjacent teeth. This is one of the reasons we take 3D X‑rays at your consultation: to see what is happening below the surface that a visual exam cannot reveal.
6. Frequent Headaches or Earaches Without an Obvious Cause
Referred pain from wisdom teeth can show up in surprising places. If you are experiencing recurring headaches or earaches and your doctor has not found another explanation, wisdom teeth are worth investigating as a possible source.
Do All Wisdom Teeth Need to Come Out?
Not necessarily. Some wisdom teeth erupt fully, come in straight, and do not cause problems. If that is the case, your oral surgeon may simply monitor them over time. But many wisdom teeth, even those that are not causing immediate pain, are positioned in ways that create long‑term risk. An evaluation from a board‑certified oral surgeon, including 3D imaging, gives you a clear and accurate picture of where things stand.
When to Come In
Do not wait until the pain is unbearable. The earlier wisdom teeth are evaluated and, if necessary, removed, the easier the recovery tends to be. Wisdom teeth in younger patients (late teens and early 20s) typically have shorter, less developed roots, which generally makes the procedure more straightforward.
Our Jacksonville office serves patients from across Northeast Florida, and we offer same‑day consultations when your schedule requires it. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, we would rather take a look and give you peace of mind than have you wait and wonder.