Can Wisdom Teeth Cause a Sore Throat?
Do you have a sore throat that isn't going away? Are you wondering if your wisdom teeth are to blame? At Nedlands Dental, we want to help you make the best decisions for your dental health, so we're providing you with all of the information you'll need to make an informed decision about your wisdom teeth.
Continue reading to find out more about the connection between sore throats and wisdom teeth.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are also called third molars. They usually start to come in at around the age of 17 or 25, but they can come as early as 14 or at any time in adulthood.
Wisdom teeth are a natural part of the human mouth, but most people do not have enough space in their gums or jaw to accommodate them. For this reason, it’s quite likely that your wisdom teeth will not grow into your mouth properly. This can cause them to become “impacted.” Impacted wisdom teeth may erupt only partially from your gums, leading to a number of oral health issues.
How wisdom teeth can cause a sore throat
A problem that may arise when a wisdom tooth does not erupt fully is the possibility of an infection. Plaque, food particles and bacteria can build up around the flap of gum tissue surrounding your tooth. Because it’s hard to clean an impacted dental area, there may be an increase in your chances for developing a tooth infection (also known as an abscess).
An abscessed tooth can be extremely painful, and it can also transmit bacteria throughout your mouth, causing a sore throat. The lower wisdom teeth are the most commonly affected.
You can also notice other signs and symptoms. Headaches, jaw pain, and tenderness can all be symptoms of an infected wisdom tooth. Near the infected tooth, you may notice visible red, inflammatory, and swollen tissue. You may develop a fever and have difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing in severe situations.
What is the treatment for a sore throat caused by wisdom teeth?
The best option for treating an infected wisdom tooth is to extract the tooth and clean the underlying socket and tissue to remove bacteria. Once your tooth has been removed, your symptoms will disappear, and your mouth will heal quickly.
If you cannot afford or find time in your schedule to undergo this surgery on one or more wisdom teeth, there are other treatments available. Antibiotics can help heal any infection and reduce pain, along with taking pain relief medication if necessary.
What are signs that I might need a dentist?
If you experience any of the below symptoms, contact our clinic in Nedlands for evaluation by one of our experienced dentists:
- Pain when chewing on that side of your mouth
- Putty-like material around the infected tooth
- Difficulty opening or closing that side of mouth due to swollen cheek muscles surrounding the impacted wisdom tooth
Wisdom Teeth FAQs
What helps a sore throat from wisdom teeth?
If you have a sore throat from wisdom teeth, try the following remedies to reduce discomfort:
- Gargle with warm salt water
- Soak a clean washcloth in warm water and hold it against your jaw
- Eat cold foods such icy poles or ice-cream
If you have pain when you swallow, avoid things like chips, pretzels, and popcorn.
Can wisdom teeth cause cold-like symptoms?
Yes, an erupted wisdom tooth can cause cold-like symptoms. The viral or bacterial infection caused by the erupted wisdom tooth can lead to cold like symptoms, such as sore throat, coughing, runny nose, sore throat and even fever.
How do you know if your wisdom teeth are infected?
If your wisdom teeth are infected it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms. Some of the common symptoms include swelling, redness, pain, or pus around the tooth or mouth. You might also have a fever, pain on one side of your face, trouble opening your jaw and bad breath.
If you experience any of these symptoms is important to contact your dentist straight away.
Can wisdom teeth cause throat and ear pain?
Yes, an erupted wisdom tooth can cause throat and ear pain.
The reasons why wisdom teeth can cause throat pain are due to the location of the tooth, which is near certain nerves that supply sensation to the jaw and face areas. When the wisdom tooth becomes impacted or infected, it can become irritated or inflamed by food particles collected around its root area.
This can lead to the gums becoming inflamed, which causes pain due to pressure on certain nerves that frequently pass through gum tissue. These irritated or inflamed nerves can send shooting pains into the jaw area, teeth, face and ears.
Get help with your wisdom teeth
Dr. Foroughi and her team at Nedlands Dental in Perth are always ready to help. If you think your wisdom tooth might need to be removed, make an appointment soon away. A highly infected wisdom tooth is a dental emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible. Call us on 63892711 or make a booking online.
