Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars to appear in the mouth, usually emerging between the ages of 17 and 25. When they grow normally and have enough space, they can function like any other tooth. But when they erupt at the wrong angle, grow sideways, tilt into neighbouring teeth, or become stuck beneath the gums, they can cause significant discomfort and require timely evaluation. Understanding the signs of a wrongly positioned wisdom tooth is essential because early recognition can prevent pain, infection, and more complex wisdom tooth extraction later on.
💡 At Whites Dental, our team of wisdom tooth assessment & extraction dentists can explains how to identify an incorrectly growing wisdom tooth, what symptoms to look for, when to visit a dentist and how our wisdom tooth team at Whites Dental in London can help with your wisdom tooth concerns.
Key Takeaway
A wisdom tooth growing in the wrong direction can lead to pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, bad breath, gum infection, damage to nearby teeth, and difficulty biting. The most reliable signs include persistent discomfort at the back of the mouth, recurrent swelling, a bad taste, pressure sensations, or visible tilting of the tooth as it erupts. Dentists diagnose misalignment through examination and X-rays, and early wisdom tooth removal is often recommended to prevent complications. If you notice ongoing irritation, swelling, chewing discomfort, or jaw pain, it’s important to seek assessment sooner rather than later so treatment stays simple, predictable and comfortable.
What It Means When A Wisdom Tooth Is Growing In The Wrong Direction
A wisdom tooth that grows in the wrong direction is generally described as “impacted.” This means it is trapped or angled in a way that prevents correct eruption. When wisdom teeth erupt improperly, several issues may appear, ranging from irritation to serious infection. Understanding the nature of the problem makes it easier to identify early signs and take appropriate action. Examples of incorrect growth directions include:
- Vertical impaction, where the tooth attempts to erupt upward but lacks space
- Mesial impaction, where the tooth leans forward into the molar in front
- Distal impaction, where it leans backwards into the jawbone.
- Horizontal impaction, where the tooth grows sideways.
- Soft-tissue impaction, where part of the tooth breaks through the gum but remains mostly covered.
- Hard-tissue impaction, where the entire tooth is stuck beneath the bone.
These positions can block eruption, trap bacteria, and create pressure within the jaw. Common outcomes include:
- Inflammation and swelling
- Gum infection or pericoronitis.
- Crowding of nearby teeth.
- Chewing discomfort.
- Headaches or earache.
- Damage to the adjacent molar.
💡 Any discomfort at the very back of your mouth lasting more than a few days should be evaluated promptly, as misaligned wisdom teeth rarely self-correct.
Early Symptoms Of A Wisdom Tooth Growing Incorrectly
Spotting the earliest warning signs matters because early intervention can prevent infection and reduce the complexity of future wisdom tooth extraction. Typical early indicators include:
- Persistent tenderness around the gums
- Discomfort when biting near the back of the mouth
- Redness, swelling, or puffiness of the gums.
- Gums that bleed when brushing.
- Bad breath or a bad taste.
- A feeling of pressure behind your molars.
- Difficulty fully opening your mouth.
- Pain that comes and goes.
In many cases, the symptoms are mild at first, which is why they are often mistaken for routine gum irritation. Additional points to look for:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food.
- Sharp or dull jaw pain.
- Pain radiating towards the ear.
- Gums that appear raised or bulging
💡 If symptoms appear repeatedly or worsen at night, they may indicate a partially erupted wisdom tooth that requires assessment.
Visible Signs That Suggest Wrong Direction Growth
Sometimes you can visually detect that a wisdom tooth is emerging incorrectly. While not all misaligned teeth are visible, those that break through the gums may display:
- A tooth crown emerging at an angle
- A gum flap partially covering the tooth
- Crowding of nearby molars.
- Gaps appearing between your molars.
- Food repeatedly getting stuck near the tooth.
- The tooth appearing sideways or tilted.
- Localised redness around only one side of the eruption area.
You may also notice swelling that doesn’t match the opposite side of your mouth. Even if the tooth is only partly visible, its position relative to neighbouring teeth can signal a larger issue beneath the surface.
💡 A tilted or sideways-appearing tooth is one of the strongest visual signs of misalignment and usually requires professional evaluation.
Pain Patterns Linked To Misaligned Wisdom Teeth
Pain is one of the most common symptoms when a wisdom tooth grows incorrectly. But not all pain feels the same, and different patterns can indicate different underlying problems. Types of discomfort include:
- Throbbing pain at the back of the mouth
- Pain when chewing or biting
- Jaw stiffness
- Ear or temple pain.
- Pain radiating downward into the neck.
- Sensitivity around the gums.
- Pain that flares when brushing.
Certain patterns suggest specific issues:
- Pain + bad taste → early infection.
- Pain + swelling → gum inflammation or pericoronitis.
- Pain + pressure → crowded neighbouring teeth
- Pain + headaches → jaw tension caused by impaction
💡 If your pain worsens when chewing tough foods, the wisdom tooth may be pushing against the molar in front and growing incorrectly.
Functional Problems Caused By A Misaligned Wisdom Tooth
As the tooth continues to erupt at an incorrect angle, functional difficulties may appear. These changes indicate that the tooth is no longer simply irritating the gum but is impacting jaw movement or dental alignment. Common functional problems include:
- Difficulty opening your mouth fully
- Discomfort when moving your jaw side-to-side.
- Pressure when clenching your teeth.
- Inability to bite comfortably at the back of the mouth.
- Food getting repeatedly trapped.
- Sensitivity when swallowing.
- Clicking or popping of the jaw.
These symptoms are especially common when the wisdom tooth presses on the jaw joint or neighbouring tooth roots. Additional problems may include:
- Swelling that interferes with speaking.
- Tenderness when lying on the affected side.
- Biting the cheek unintentionally
💡 If you struggle to open your mouth fully, it’s often a sign that inflammation is affecting your jaw joint and should be assessed quickly.
Infection Risks When A Wisdom Tooth Grows In The Wrong Direction
A misaligned wisdom tooth creates the perfect environment for bacteria to accumulate. When part of the tooth is trapped beneath the gum, food debris and plaque collect easily, causing infection. Infections associated with misaligned wisdom teeth include:
- Pericoronitis.
- Gum abscess.
- Bone infection in advanced cases.
- Spread of infection to nearby tissues
Common infection symptoms:
- Swollen, painful gum flaps
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus discharge.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Facial swelling.
- Pain that feels warm or pulsing.
If left untreated, infection can become severe and require urgent care.
Additional risk factors:
- Poor access for brushing.
- Excess gum tissue trapping bacteria
- Lower wisdom teeth being more prone to infection
💡 Repeated episodes of painful swelling almost always mean the tooth is erupting incorrectly and requires professional evaluation.
Diagnostic Methods Used To Identify Wrong Direction Growth
Dentists use several methods to determine whether your wisdom tooth is growing in the wrong direction. Clinical examination alone is often not enough, which is why imaging plays a crucial role.
Common diagnostic steps:
- Oral examination of the gum and erupting tooth
- Assessment of swelling or infection
- Bite analysis.
- Checking how the tooth affects nearby teeth.
- X-rays to determine exact direction.
- 3D scans where necessary.
X-rays reveal:
- Angulation of the tooth.
- Proximity to the nerve canal.
- Bone coverage.
- Pressure on neighbouring teeth
- Risk of future complications
These assessments guide decisions on whether wisdom tooth removal is required and how complex the extraction might be.
💡 Early X-rays can identify misalignment long before symptoms start, making removal simpler and making complications less likely.
When Wisdom Tooth Removal Becomes Necessary
A wisdom tooth growing in the wrong direction often needs removal, especially when it causes ongoing symptoms or threatens neighbouring teeth. Extraction prevents further complications and restores comfort.
Common reasons for removal include:
- Persistent pain.
- Repeated gum infections.
- Crowding or shifting of other teeth.
- Damage to the tooth in front.
- Cavities forming behind neighbouring molars
- Cysts forming around the wisdom tooth
- Difficulty cleaning the area
Other reasons include:
- Chronic pressure in the jaw.
- Impact on bite alignment.
- Formation of gum pockets.
- Ongoing food trapping
Dentists typically recommend removal sooner rather than later because earlier extraction often results in faster healing, fewer complications, and a more comfortable experience.
💡 If your dentist suggests extraction due to angulation, it is usually a preventative measure that avoids more invasive procedures later.
How Long You Can Wait Before Seeking Help
People often delay treatment because symptoms come and go. However, waiting too long can increase the likelihood of infection and more complicated extraction. Factors that determine urgency include:
- Frequency of pain.
- Presence of swelling.
- Difficulty eating.
- Jaw stiffness.
- Recurrent infection.
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Visible sideways eruption
Most dentists recommend scheduling an assessment as soon as regular discomfort starts, especially if you experience pain for more than a week.
💡 Intermittent symptoms are still meaningful; even if they disappear temporarily, they usually return and worsen over time.
How To Monitor A Wisdom Tooth That Is Growing Incorrectly
Some patients may be advised to monitor the tooth rather than remove it immediately, depending on its position and symptom level.
Monitoring includes:
- Regular dental check-ups.
- Occasional X-rays.
- Cleaning the area carefully.
- Watching for increased pressure
- Tracking any changes in chewing or speaking
- Keeping note of pain frequency
Patients should also be alert to:
- Recurring bad taste.
- Swelling that appears suddenly.
- Spontaneous gum bleeding.
- Changes in mouth opening
💡 Even during monitoring, if the tooth becomes painful or swollen, revisit your dentist promptly as plans may need adjusting.
Complications Of Leaving A Misaligned Wisdom Tooth Untreated
Ignoring the problem can lead to more serious long-term issues that affect both oral health and overall comfort. Potential complications include:
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Decay due to trapped food
- Gum disease
- Jaw infections.
- Cysts or tumours around the tooth.
- Chronic headaches.
- Severe jaw stiffness.
- Difficulty chewing.
- Long-lasting bad breath.
Additional consequences:
- Increased extraction complexity.
- Higher risk of nerve irritation
- More extensive healing time
💡 Early diagnosis and extraction help you avoid complications that can become far more difficult and costly to treat later.
How Whites Dental Can Help With Wisdom Tooth Assessment & Removal In Central London
Whites Dental offers comprehensive wisdom tooth assessment and removal in London for patients experiencing symptoms from misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth. Our experienced clinical team uses modern technology, including digital X-rays and precision imaging, to diagnose the direction of wisdom tooth growth accurately. This ensures safe planning, tailored guidance and the most comfortable experience for patients.
Approaches we use include:
- Detailed clinical examination.
- High-quality imaging to assess tooth position.
- Early detection and preventative planning.
- Gentle, expert wisdom tooth removal.
- Advice on aftercare and healing
- Management of infections and gum inflammation
Whites Dental has two convenient central London locations:
Whites Dental Waterloo
Whites Dental Marble Arch
Our team regularly supports patients with complex wisdom tooth concerns, including those experiencing pain, swelling, pressure or suspected wrong-direction growth.
💡 If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are serious, an early assessment at Whites Dental can provide clarity and prevent future complications.
Final Thoughts
A wisdom tooth growing in the wrong direction is not always obvious at first, but symptoms such as pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, bad breath, and pressure are important signals. Early evaluation helps avoid more serious issues, and many people benefit from timely wisdom tooth extraction to protect long-term oral health.
If you notice ongoing discomfort or suspect abnormal eruption, seeking professional guidance early makes treatment simpler and ensures your mouth stays healthy.