How to distinguish between growing wisdom teeth and stuck wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the innermost molars in both the upper and lower jaws. ^{[1] X Source of Study} These four teeth are the last to erupt or come out of the gums and start working – this usually occurs in the late teen years or early adulthood; however, sometimes wisdom teeth do not emerge or only partially emerge and become trapped if there is not enough room in the jaw or in the mouth. It’s important to know if a wisdom tooth is growing normally or if it’s stuck, because impacted wisdom teeth often cause problems and require dental treatment.

Table of Contents

Recognizing signs of wisdom teeth growing

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Know where to look in your mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last molars of each set of teeth – the upper and lower jaws on both sides. Their function is to chew food, even though you don’t actually need wisdom teeth to be able to chew normally. Wisdom teeth erupt as the jaws develop and last throughout the late teen years. You can open your mouth wide and use a pen flashlight to look deep inside your mouth. Wisdom teeth are the third molars, located fifth after the canines. ^{[2] X Research Source}

See if there’s enough room for another molar to grow in. Wisdom teeth will not necessarily grow if there is not enough space in the jaw.
If other teeth are already crowded in the mouth and/or crooked, it is likely that the wisdom teeth will not come out completely.

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Use your tongue to feel behind the second molars. Once you know where your wisdom teeth will come in, use your tongue to trace along the gum line. When wisdom teeth (or any teeth) begin to erupt, they will emerge from the gums. The upper part of the tooth, called the crown or crown, will protrude first. ^{[3] X Source of Study} Before the crowns emerge from the gum tissue (gingiva) and cause discomfort, you will feel a hard mass appearing in the gums behind the second molars.

If the tongue is not long enough to reach the bottom of the gums, you can use your index finger to feel around. Remember to wash your fingers before putting them in your mouth.
The tongue has a natural tendency to be unconsciously drawn towards sharp edges or sores in the mouth, especially when they first appear.

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Pay attention to pain in the gums or jaw. A growing wisdom tooth can cause at least mild discomfort as the crown pierces the sensitive gum tissue. Notice the feeling of at least short-term mild pain, tightness, or dull ache in the posterior gum or in the nearby jawline. ^{[4] X Source of Research} The pain may be more intense if wisdom teeth are misaligned because the jaw is too cramped. However, symptoms can be very subtle if wisdom teeth are straight and positioned correctly relative to other teeth. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

The pain from wisdom teeth will increase at night if you have a habit of clenching your jaw and/or grinding your molars while you sleep.
Chewing gum or eating hard foods can also adversely affect growing wisdom teeth and lead to more severe symptoms.

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Check for redness and swelling. Wisdom teeth can also cause redness and inflammation in sensitive gum tissue. ^{[6] X Research Source} You can feel the inflammation with your tongue or see the inflamed gums when you open your mouth wide. Use a flashlight to get a better look. Swollen and red gums are also known as gingivitis. Inflamed wisdom teeth make it difficult or uncomfortable to chew food. In fact, they can cause you to bite your cheeks and/or tongue more because they are crowded in the mouth.

You may also see some blood around the erupting wisdom tooth (or red saliva). This phenomenon can occur although is not common.
You can also see the “gingival flap” above the erupting wisdom tooth – also known as the pericrotal flap.
When your gums swell, you may find it difficult to open your mouth when eating. This is especially common with lower wisdom teeth, as the inflammation affects the biting muscles that help open the mouth. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} So you may have to drink pureed foods for a few days (don’t use a straw, as this can lead to dry sockets).

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Watch the wisdom teeth grow. As the tips of the wisdom teeth penetrate the gum surface, they will continue to emerge until they reach the level of the other molars. This process takes weeks, even months, and you can see if they grow straight. If the wisdom teeth do not grow straight, they can crowd with other molars, leading to compression and displacement of the other front teeth that are visible when you smile. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Misaligned wisdom teeth can cause a “domino effect,” which will eventually affect other teeth, causing them to grow crooked and uneven.
If you feel your front teeth suddenly shift, compare with old photos of when you smile.
When wisdom teeth are extracted, crooked or crooked teeth will automatically straighten after a few weeks or months.

Know the signs of wisdom teeth getting stuck

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Learn about impacted wisdom teeth. Ingrown wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that either do not emerge at all (and remain in the jawbone below the gum line), or do not erupt normally. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} They can get stuck under the gum flap or grow very tilted – even horizontal instead of straight up. Note that impacted wisdom teeth do not always cause problems or symptoms and do not necessarily require extraction.

It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to grow completely in the mouth, get stuck and grow underground.
The longer wisdom teeth stay in the mouth, the more roots develop and the harder it is to extract if they cause problems.

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Don’t ignore pain and inflammation. An impacted wisdom tooth is not always accompanied by symptoms, but when symptoms are present, pain and inflammation are often quite severe. ^{[10] X Source of Study} Unlike mild discomfort during normal eruption, impacted wisdom teeth often cause severe sharp pain (in the gums and jaw), swelling, headache, stiff neck, earache and/or Difficulty opening mouth. If the above symptoms appear, it means that the wisdom tooth is not growing normally – you must see the dentist immediately.

The symptoms to distinguish between an erupting or an erupting wisdom tooth are usually in the level. An impacted wisdom tooth usually hurts and swells for a longer time, and doesn’t get better until it’s extracted.
The discomfort caused by the erupting wisdom tooth only occurs during the time when the tip of the tooth is pierced through the gum, while the stuck tooth still hurts a lot after it erupts or even when it is not visible.
If your wisdom teeth don’t grow straight and in place, you may experience constant pain or discomfort that spreads throughout your jaw up to the middle.

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Watch for signs of infection. An impacted or impacted wisdom tooth significantly increases the risk of an infection, called periodontitis. ^{[11] X Source of Research} An ingrown tooth will create small spaces below the peri-coronal flap where bacteria can colonize and multiply. Bacteria can eat away at tooth enamel, bone, and gum tissue. Signs of an infected wisdom tooth are: intense inflammation, severe pain (throbbing or pulsating), low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and along the jaw, pus around inflamed gums, bad breath. foul and unpleasant taste in the mouth. ^{[12] X Research Source}

The pus is grayish-white and produced by white blood cells. These specialized immune cells are responsible for destroying the surrounding bacteria, which eventually die and form pus.
Bad breath comes from bacterial waste, pus, and blood oozing from infected wisdom teeth.

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Know when to see the dentist. You need to go to the dentist quickly when severe symptoms persist for more than a few days or if signs of infection appear. You will be given an x-ray, anesthetized, and extracted the impacted wisdom tooth that is causing your symptoms. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading into the bloodstream. Wisdom teeth that are extracted before the age of 20 usually have better results, because the roots are not fully developed. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Complications from infected wisdom teeth include: tooth or gum abscesses, cysts, and sepsis (infection in the blood).
The American Dental Association recommends that every teenager 16-19 years of age see a licensed dentist to have their wisdom teeth checked. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Advice

Pain relievers (analgesics) or reduce inflammation can control pain caused by teeth that are not erupting normally or are trapped.
To reduce swelling and pain from an ingrown wisdom tooth, you can apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek. Wrap an ice cube in gauze or a towel and apply it to the painful area for up to 10 minutes.
When dealing with impacted wisdom teeth, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene. Otherwise, bacteria will multiply and lead to an infection.
If you suspect an impacted wisdom tooth is infected, you can repel the bacteria by gargling with warm salt water and/or an antiseptic mouthwash several times a day.
When you have pain because your wisdom teeth are growing, you should eat soft foods (yogurt, soft cheese, noodles, bread soaked in water) and drink cool water to reduce irritation.
You can’t prevent wisdom teeth from getting stuck, but regular dental visits can prevent them from becoming a major problem.
Clove oil can help ease the pain of an ingrown wisdom tooth.

Steps

Recognizing signs of wisdom teeth growing

Know the signs of wisdom teeth getting stuck

Advice

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