Are Your Wisdom Teeth Affecting Your Gums? What to Look For

At Ueno Center Dental Specialists in Campbell, CA, our expert periodontal and surgical team — Jeremy K. Ueno, DMD; Lynna Bui, DDS; Debra Westervelt, DDS; J. Reed Rayher, DDS, MD; and Jordan Richert, DMD — provides advanced care for both gum health and wisdom tooth removal. If your wisdom teeth are making it difficult to clean your mouth or irritating your gums, it may be time for an evaluation.

**Why Wisdom Teeth Cause Pain

(and What It Means)**

Pain is usually the first sign that something is wrong with your wisdom teeth. It may feel like:

• A dull ache
  
  
• Sharp, shooting pain
  
  
• Pain that comes and goes
  
  
• Pain when chewing
  
  
• Pressure in the back of the jaw
  
  

Wisdom teeth often create issues because:

• They grow at the wrong angle
  
  
• They crowd surrounding teeth, making them harder to clean
  
  
• They only partially erupt, creating a flap where food and bacteria get trapped
  
  
• They become impacted, meaning they don’t fully break through the gumline
  
  

Any of these can lead to gum irritation, inflammation, infection, and disease.

Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Are Affecting Your Gums

Look for these symptoms near your wisdom teeth:

• Pain or tenderness in the back of the mouth
  
  
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
  
  
• Bad breath or a persistent bad taste
  
  
• Red, puffy, or swollen gums
  
  
• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
  
  
• Difficulty cleaning the area
  
  
• Receding gums or loosening teeth (advanced gum disease)
  
  

These symptoms often signal early gum disease (gingivitis) — which can progress to periodontitis, a more severe condition that can destroy gum tissue and bone.

Which Comes First: Treating Gum Disease or Removing Wisdom Teeth?

If you’re experiencing both gum issues and wisdom tooth pain, treatment order matters.

In most cases, gum disease should be addressed first.
This reduces the risk of infection after surgery and allows the surgical area to heal more predictably.

Depending on severity, treatment may include:

• A routine professional cleaning
  
  
• Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)
  
  
• Periodontal maintenance
  
  
• Home care instruction and follow-up
  
  
• In rare cases, gum grafting for severe recession or infection
  
  

Once gum inflammation is under control, we can determine whether your wisdom teeth should be removed.

The Good News: Early Treatment = Easier Recovery

Most gum issues caused by wisdom teeth are caught early because the pain becomes noticeable quickly. Treating early prevents larger issues later, such as advanced gum disease or bone loss.

If you’re experiencing discomfort or noticing signs of gum irritation, the safest step is to schedule an evaluation before the problem worsens.

Schedule Your Consultation

If your wisdom teeth are causing gum problems — or if you’re simply unsure — our periodontal and surgical specialists are here to help.