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Patient guide

Wisdom Tooth Pain: What’s Happening and What Helps

Pain at the back of the jaw is often linked to a wisdom tooth trying to come through. It’s common — and it can usually be sorted out.

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Seek urgent care: If you have severe swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, facial trauma, a high fever or other serious symptoms, seek urgent medical care at the nearest hospital emergency department.

Wisdom teeth often don’t have enough space. The gum over a partly erupted tooth can trap food and bacteria, becoming sore and swollen. Decay in wisdom teeth is also common because they are hard to reach.

Possible causes to learn about

Tap a card to jump to details. Only a dentist can confirm the cause after an examination.

Wisdom tooth problemsPain or infection around a wisdom tooth that is trapped or coming through at an angle.Tooth decay (cavity)A hole in the tooth caused by acid from plaque bacteria.Dental abscessA collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection at the tooth or gum.

Wisdom tooth problems

What it is

Wisdom teeth may not have space to come through. The gum over a partially erupted wisdom tooth can trap food and become inflamed (pericoronitis).

Common symptoms

  • Pain at the very back of the jaw
  • Swollen gum behind the last tooth
  • Difficulty opening the mouth
  • Bad taste

Possible causes

  • Lack of space
  • Food trapping under the gum flap
  • Decay in hard-to-clean teeth

When to seek care

Book an assessment if pain or swelling at the back of the mouth keeps returning.

Spreading swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth needs urgent care.

What treatment may involve

Cleaning and managing the gum infection, monitoring, or wisdom tooth extraction.

An X-ray shows the tooth position. Options, including risks, are explained before any extraction.

What it may feel like & recovery

Extraction is done with local anaesthetic; soreness and swelling afterwards are common.

Most people feel much better within about a week.

Not necessarily. Each tooth is assessed individually.

Learn more: Wisdom Teeth

Tooth decay (cavity)

What it is

Plaque bacteria turn sugars into acid, which gradually dissolves tooth enamel. Early decay may not hurt; as it gets deeper it can cause sensitivity and pain.

Common symptoms

  • Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold
  • A visible hole or dark spot
  • Food catching in one spot
  • Pain when biting

Possible causes

  • Frequent sugary snacks or drinks
  • Plaque left on teeth
  • Dry mouth
  • Missed check-ups

When to seek care

Book a check-up if you notice sensitivity, a dark spot or a hole. Earlier treatment is usually simpler.

What treatment may involve

Small cavities are often repaired with a tooth-coloured filling. Deep decay that reaches the nerve may need root canal treatment.

The area is numbed, the decay is removed and the tooth is rebuilt with filling material shaped to your bite.

What it may feel like & recovery

With local anaesthetic, most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain.

You can usually eat once the numbness wears off. Mild sensitivity for a few days can be normal.

Very early enamel changes can sometimes be reversed with fluoride and better habits, but a true cavity (hole) does not heal by itself.

Learn more: General Dentistry Root Canal

Dental abscess

What it is

An abscess forms when infection collects at the tip of a tooth root or in the gum. It will not go away without treatment of the cause.

Common symptoms

  • Severe, throbbing pain
  • Swelling of gum or face
  • A gum boil or pimple
  • Bad taste
  • Fever or feeling unwell

Possible causes

  • Untreated decay
  • Cracked tooth
  • Advanced gum disease

When to seek care

Contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Swelling spreading to the eye, neck or floor of the mouth, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or high fever needs urgent medical care (hospital emergency department).

What treatment may involve

Draining the infection and treating the cause — usually root canal treatment or extraction. Antibiotics may be needed in some cases.

Your dentist will assess, relieve pressure where appropriate and plan definitive treatment.

What it may feel like & recovery

Relief often comes once pressure is released. The area is numbed for treatment.

Most people improve within a few days of treatment. Complete the treatment plan so the infection does not return.

An abscess needs professional care. Swelling can reduce temporarily but the infection usually remains until the cause is treated.

Learn more: Root Canal General Dentistry

Safe steps while you wait

  • Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals
  • Clean carefully around the area with a soft brush
  • Over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packet
  • Eat soft foods and chew on the other side

Signs you need prompt care

  • Swelling of the cheek or jaw
  • Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing
  • Fever or feeling unwell
  • Pus or a persistent bad taste

Seek urgent care if you notice

  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Swelling spreading to the neck or under the tongue
  • High fever

This information is for general guidance only and does not replace a professional dental examination. Your dentist will assess your condition and treatment options may vary.

Have questions? Talk to our team.

Tell us what you’re experiencing. We’ll help you understand your options and how soon you should be seen.

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Frequently asked questions

A flare-up can settle, but it often returns if the cause remains. An assessment helps decide whether monitoring or treatment is best.

Related treatments

Wisdom Tooth TreatmentAssessment and care for painful or trapped wisdom teeth.General DentistryMaintain your oral health with check-ups, cleaning and fillings.

Patient guides

Tooth PainTooth pain can have many different causes. You don’t need to work out which one — but understanding the possibilities can make the next step feel less worrying.Read guide Dental EmergencyIn a dental emergency, knowing what to do in the first hour can make a real difference. Here’s how to tell how urgent it is — and what to do next.Read guide

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