Does my painful wisdom tooth need to come out?
By Make Me Smile Dental Health Centre, Shastri Nagar Lane 2, Andheri West · Updated 1 October 2026
The short answer
Not always. Pain often comes from gum inflammation around a partly erupted wisdom tooth, which can settle with cleaning and care. Removal is usually advised if the tooth keeps getting infected, is decaying, is damaging the tooth in front, or has no room to come through properly. An X-ray shows which situation you’re in.
Wisdom teeth usually arrive between 17 and 25, often in a jaw that has no room left for them. That’s why they cause so much trouble.
Why wisdom teeth hurt
- Gum infection (pericoronitis): food and bacteria trapped under the gum flap over a half-erupted tooth.
- Decay: they’re hard to clean, so cavities are common.
- Pressure: a tooth pushing against the one in front.
- Cysts: rare, but they can form around a buried tooth.
What helps at home
- Warm salt-water rinses several times a day
- Careful brushing around the area, even if it’s sore
- A painkiller you normally tolerate, as directed on the pack
See a dentist the same day if you can’t open your mouth properly, swelling is spreading, or you have a fever. If swelling reaches your eye or neck, or you struggle to swallow or breathe, go to hospital.
When removal makes sense
- Repeated infections
- Decay that can’t be sensibly filled
- Damage to the tooth in front
- No room to come through, with problems already starting
Healthy wisdom teeth that have come through properly and can be cleaned can stay.
One patient’s Google review mentions that her friend had a wisdom tooth removed at Make Me Smile too. Influencer Malvika Sitlani also vlogged her wisdom-tooth removal at our clinic.
Read about extractions and wisdom teeth or book a check-up. We’re open every day, including Sundays.
More questions
How long does recovery take after wisdom tooth removal?
Most people feel much better within three to five days, and the gum heals over the following weeks. Swelling usually peaks on day two or three.
Is wisdom tooth removal painful?
It’s done under local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure rather than pain. Afterwards, soreness is managed with painkillers and cold compresses.