It’s been estimated that roughly 35% of people will never develop Wisdom Teeth. You could likely count yourself lucky if you end up in that group, but for the people in that other 65% – those extra molars can cause quite a problem if they aren’t dealt with properly.

Some of us may have had our wisdom teeth removed at a younger age, before they could pose any risks. But if you’ve never undergone such a procedure, you may want to be on the lookout for some of the symptoms frequently linked to Impacted Wisdom Teeth. We’ve put together a list of the most common warning signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth – make sure you see a dentist if you experience any of these.

Headaches

Just about anything can cause a headache, sometimes they seem to come and go without any real cause at all.  But if you seem to have recurring headaches along with any of the other symptoms in this list, it could be a further indication of a possible problem with your teeth – including Impacted Wisdom Teeth.

Problems Chewing

If you start finding it more difficult to chew – especially near the back of your mouth – you might want to consider visiting a dentist for an x-ray. Tenderness or sensitivity while chewing could be a result of swelling and irritation of your gums and jaw from an Impacted Wisdom Tooth. In severe cases, you could be dealing with inflammation from bacterial build-up. Don’t ignore this warning sign.

Tenderness or Swelling in Gums

If you find your gums tender and painful to the touch, if they bleed when you brush and floss, or you feel any general pain in your gums, make sure to stop in to a dentist soon to get it checked out. Impacted wisdom teeth can certainly cause swollen gums or pain, bleeding and tenderness in your gums. But even if that’s not the cause – you’ll still want a check-up, as it could be a symptom of another potentially problematic dental issue.

Swollen Jaw and/or Swollen Glands

Another red flag that may indicate you could be suffering from Impacted Wisdom Teeth is swelling and pain around your jaw. Sometimes, you may also experience swollen glands alongside this symptom, usually around your throat and upper shoulder. This swelling could be a result of inflammation from bacterial infection or other swelling and irritation stemming from your wisdom teeth. Whether or not it turns out to be a Wisdom tooth issue, you’ll still rest easier getting it checked out and abating the pain.

Sharp or Throbbing Pains in Back of Mouth

This is perhaps one of the most prominent symptoms you may encounter when dealing specifically with impacted Wisdom tooth pain. Sometimes you’ll experience a dull, throbbing pain in the back of your mouth, often in your gums behind your molars. In other cases, it may be a sharper pain. In either case, this sort of pain can often be exacerbated by chewing, flossing and brushing. If you still have your wisdom teeth and you experience pains and/or tenderness in the back of your mouth, pay a visit to your dentist right away.

Dr. David Redford is a Dentist in Denver, CO and an avid dental hygiene blogger.