Have you recently gotten your wisdom teeth removed and now struggling with jaw pain and contemplating why your Jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal? Unfortunately, this is a typical symptom after wisdom teeth extraction. The pain and soreness can be unpleasant especially when it lasts longer than anticipated.
Knowing what is normal and when to visit your dentist is crucial for your recovery process. This blog will enlighten you about why your jaw hurts after wisdom teeth removal and effective strategies to manage it.
Wisdom teeth are your third molars that erupt in late adolescence or early adulthood (17-25 years) making it your last set of teeth. As your other teeth have fully developed by that time, due to shortage of space, wisdom teeth get impacted.
The impacted wisdom teeth can cause various dental complications like crowding, gum disease, cysts, etc and all of these lead to pain and swelling. Therefore it is advised to extract wisdom teeth.
The actual treatment is simple and carried out under local anaesthesia, but the aftermath can cause jaw pain after wisdom teeth removal.
Jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal is a complex issue and can be caused by a variety of factors. Knowing it will let you manage it properly.
The removal of wisdom teeth particularly those that are impacted can seriously damage the alveolar bone especially when it’s done by an inexperienced dentist. Post operative pain can be caused by the force applied in the wisdom teeth removal process pressure exerted to move the teeth and manipulation of surrounding tissue.
This pain usually becomes apparent in the first few days after wisdom teeth extraction and can last for weeks.
Alveolar osteitis, also called dry socket is a frequent cause of Jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal. A typical healing phase after wisdom teeth removal involves development of blood clot to protect the underlying alveolar bone.
This blood clot serves as a shield or barrier to limit injuries to alveolar bone during the healing process. But if the blood clot doesn’t form or become loose, the delicate bone is exposed which can cause a painful condition called dry socket. Since it causes excruciating pain, it is regarded as a dental emergency, and you should consult with your dentist as soon as possible when you experience this. Alveolar osteitis can result due to various factors:
In addition to severe pain, a dry socket can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth, poor breath, and visible bone in the socket.
Even if the blood clot forms properly after wisdom teeth removal, due to poor oral hygiene, there are chances that it won’t stay in place until the wound has completely healed. The clot can break soon and disintegrate, resulting in Jaw pain after wisdom teeth removal.
This premature blood clot disintegration can be very painful and uncomfortable. It can commonly occur due to various physical disturbances, such as vigorously rinsing the mouth or chewing crunchy, hard foods immediately after wisdom teeth extraction. All of this makes the exposed bone prone to infection.
Even after the impacted and decayed tooth is extracted, infection can still develop at the surgical site. Bacteria, the main culprit behind tooth cavities and continuous infection, is still present to cause infection again in the healing socket and surrounding gums.
This infection is another major and frequent cause of Jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal. The following are the clinical features of infection :
Therefore, you should prioritise taking good care of your teeth after this procedure. It is critical to follow your dentist’s advice, take recommended painkillers and antibiotics, gently rinse your mouth with saline water, and stick to soft and smooth foods after wisdom teeth removal.
Another potential risk of tooth removal is nerve injury or irritation, particularly when wisdom teeth are impacted or close to essential nerve routes. This can result in short-term or, in the worst-case scenario, long-term sensory abnormalities. Below are the possible symptoms of nerve damage :
Nerve damage can cause jaw pain 3 weeks after wisdom tooth extraction or even months. However, it passes quickly and becomes better with time. It’s better to notify your dentist when you encounter this problem.
After the extraction, the jaw’s surrounding muscles can stiffen, exacerbating pain. Prolonged mouth opening during surgery is frequently the cause of muscle rigidity. Sometimes, this can result in trismus, a disorder in which the jaw muscles tighten to the point that it is very difficult to open the mouth.
This can become extremely uncomfortable and unbearable when other complications are superimposed.
The jaw’s mobility depends on the temporomandibular joint, which connects the temporal bone of the skull with the mandible (jaw bone). A TMJ disorder can occasionally result following wisdom teeth removal because of the tension and pressure this jaw experiences throughout the extraction procedure.
But how can you identify if you have TMJ or any other disorder? Well, TMJ gives typical symptoms; let’s check this out :
Depending on the severity of symptoms, there are various treatment plans for TMJ. For mild cases, you can benefit from applying ice, incorporating jaw exercises, eating soft food, and taking painkillers. In more extreme situations, it is recommended to use muscle relaxants, customised mouth guards and even braces to relieve your TMJ symptoms.
Managing jaw pain after wisdom teeth removal involves many at-home strategies to reduce pain and accelerate the healing process. Below are some common interventions to manage your Jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal :
Experiencing jaw hurting after wisdom teeth removal is typical. However, understanding its cause can help you manage it effectively. Are you looking for wisdom teeth experts in Paramus Park, NJ? We’ve got you covered. Book an appointment for wisdom teeth removal in Paramus Park, NJ, to get your treatment from professional hands and at affordable rates.