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Question:
Lower gum pressure/pain: For the past several days, I have been suffering from a constant
aching in my front lower gums, well under the teeth. It almost feels as though my teeth are moving, or are being pressured from impaction.
I have had this feeling in the past when my wisdom teeth were coming in, and assumed then that the pain resulted from shifting of my lower teeth to accommodate the wisdom teeth. Now, however, my wisdom teeth are fully in (at least I believe they are--I'm 27 years old), and they do not create any serious problems for me.
Could this pain be the result of wisdom teeth impaction, and if so, does it mean that my teeth will continue to shift unless I have the wisdom teeth extracted? I've also been experiencing fairly constant headaches (most likely tension headaches) for the past 3 weeks or so, and have already consulted my doctor about that. ...Visitor from CA
Answer:
First, wisdom teeth do not cause tooth movement. I do believe your teeth crowding and headaches are from the same root cause.
Most people have a small difference between where their teeth fit together and the fully relaxed
position of the jaw.
You can demonstrate this on yourself by biting on something soft between your front teeth without allowing your back teeth to touch for 6 minutes (a washcloth works fine). Tilt your head back and allow your lower jaw to slide backwards. Maintain fifty percent biting force. Remove the object and while tilting your head back, slowly close your teeth until only one tooth touches. Your jaw is in the fully seated jaw position, but the teeth are not fully meshed. You will have to slide forward to get your teeth to mesh again.
This is a demonstration of the constant slide your jaw is repeating to get your teeth to mesh. This habit creates an anterior component of force that can cause your teeth to crowd. I cannot predict when crowding will cease.
Headaches are caused by a cramp in the muscle that holds your jaw slightly forward (the one that causes your teeth to mesh). Under mental or spiritual stress, we often grind or clench our teeth at night causing cramping of this muscle (the superior head of the lateral ptgerygoid).
Many nerve structures exit the brain in and around the area of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This can have an effect on those structures causing radiating pain down the jaw, dizziness, tension headaches, frontal headaches, and ringing in the ears. This condition can been treated successfully without medication.
The following are some homecare instructions that can help when you get a headache:
- Take tylenol or advil (consult with physician as first)
- Place hot towels over the jaw joint for as long as you can stand it
- Keep your teeth apart - they should only touch for chewing and swallowing
- No gum chewing
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