{"id":252,"date":"2025-08-04T19:37:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T19:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=252"},"modified":"2025-09-16T19:39:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:39:31","slug":"why-do-wisdom-teeth-hurt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/04\/why-do-wisdom-teeth-hurt\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt So Much?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-300x201.png\" alt=\"Close up of two wisdom teeth next to dental mirror and pick\" class=\"wp-image-253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image.png 570w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>About 65% to 75% of Americans have to deal with growing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/wisdom-tooth-extractions.html\">wisdom teeth<\/a>, leaving many highschoolers (and some adults) to wonder why they hurt so much. After all, you might have felt some discomfort when your other adult teeth emerged, but nothing like what you experienced with your third molars. What makes them different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As it turns out, a couple of things! Here\u2019s why your wisdom teeth might be hurting \u2013 and what your dentist can do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Simple Growing Pains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike your other adult teeth, you don\u2019t get a \u201cbaby version\u201d of your third molars. While baby teeth are painful when they first emerge, they effectively carve out a path for their permanent counterparts that makes their growth much easier. Wisdom teeth, on the other hand, have to \u201cmake their own path\u201d much like your original baby pearly whites. And if you\u2019ve been around toddlers, you know how uncomfortable <em>those <\/em>growing pains can be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not-So Simple Impaction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is possible for wisdom teeth to hurt simply because they\u2019re growing, but considering 90% of Americans who develop third molars experience at least one impaction, it\u2019s more likely your tooth is trapped below your gumline. This means another tooth is blocking the molar\u2019s path, or that the molar is crooked. Either way, the resulting pain is caused by the pressure your wisdom teeth are exerting on your other pearly whites and jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cavities or Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wisdom teeth often cause overcrowding; not many people actually have enough room in their mouth to accommodate their third molars, so they tend to emerge very close to their dental neighbors. This can create nooks and crannies towards the back of your smile that are hard to reach with your toothbrush. If you\u2019re experiencing sharp, pinpoint pain or swollen gums, bacteria build up might have formed a cavity or gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extraction: No Tooth, No Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, no one ever <em>wants <\/em>a tooth extraction, but most of the time, it\u2019s best for your dentist to remove troublesome third molars. Impacted wisdom teeth can be particularly harmful to your oral health, and can even damage the jawbone if they\u2019re not taken care of. Plus, no tooth means no pain \u2013 patients tend to feel much better after their wisdom teeth are extracted!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re wondering whether it\u2019s possible to safely keep your wisdom teeth, the answer is \u201cyes.\u201d About 15% of people can allow their third molars to grow in without complication. Either way, the only way to know what you need is to visit your dentist for an exam and X-rays! So if your wisdom teeth hurt, don\u2019t hesitate to call your dentist and schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Jonathan H. Cohen<\/a> is an experienced dentist who has completed advanced training with several prestigious organizations, including the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education, The Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, and the Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic. If you\u2019re experiencing wisdom tooth pain and need treatment, Dr. Cohen is certainly qualified to take care of your smile! To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.julingtoncreekdentistry.com\/contact.html\">contact his office<\/a> and schedule an appointment, call 904-230-2961.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About 65% to 75% of Americans have to deal with growing wisdom teeth, leaving many highschoolers (and some adults) to wonder why they hurt so much. After all, you might have felt some discomfort when your other adult teeth emerged, but nothing like what you experienced with your third molars. What makes them different? As [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt So Much? | Julington Creek Family Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ever wonder why wisdom teeth are so painful when they grow in? 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