gums

[Halibut]

ok im 17 and i have not got my wisdom teeth yet. but my gum at the very back of my tooth on one side really hurts and feels raw and swollen ..and its been like that for two days. also i got a earache on the same side . im not sure if its wisdom teeth or something else. any advice

[Skeln]

Well, I'm not sure if I have my wisdom teeth or not. I would suggest you ask your parents about it, they would know for sure. I don't think your supposed to get an earache. I'm not really sure about this one. Sorry.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

It's possibly wisdom teeth. They have to break through the bone to grow in, so that's where a lot of the pain comes from, the slow process of making their way through, and then of course through the gums. Your dentist should have taken x-rays sometime in the last year or so during a routine check-up, they need those to see where your wisdom teeth are. The pain may go away soon, if it's just the teeth moving around. Get some orajel or another over the counter toothache gel, and see how it goes. If the pain doesn't go away, see your dentist. Most people get their wisdom teeth removed, either because they are impacted (stuck in the bone where they can't break through), or crooked (which can disrupt the rest of your teeth and make them move around). A lot of people get them out even if they don't strictly need to, also. It's just a good idea for most people. The only way to know how your teeth are progressing is to take an x-ray.

Ear pain makes some sense, it's normal enough. The pain is probably from your jaw, which you can feel in your ear sometimes. Ibuprofen (like Motrin, Advil) can reduce inflammation and help that to go away.

Another idea, which doesn't really explain the ear pain, is that your gums are just irritated. Do you floss regularly? Try to get some floss back there behind that last molar, make sure there's not anything back there. It's hard to reach, and it'll be sore, but worth it if that's the problem. If that is it, swish some salt water in your mouth when you brush your teeth, just for a few days, to encourage the swelling to go back down.