Health Tip: Do You Have an Impacted Tooth?

Head and neck pain may be symptoms

Related Encyclopedia • Dental Abscesses • Dental Implants • Dry Mouth • Dysphonia More... Related Animations • Dental Cavities More... Related Healthscout Videos The New Tooth Fairy: Banking Dental Stem Cells "Brushing" Away Oral Cancer Face Pain Phenomenon Picture Perfect Smile More... Related News Articles • Health Tip: Troubled by a Toothache? • Quitting Smoking May Halve Risk of Oral Health Problems • Early Surgery Boosts Outcomes for Babies With Cleft Palate • Health Tip: Don't Fear the Dentist More...

(HealthDay News) -- Teeth below the gums are supposed to continue growing and break through. But sometimes, teeth -- most often wisdom teeth -- don't emerge and become impacted.

Text Continues Below

---

Head and neck pain may signal an impacted tooth, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. Here's a more complete list of common symptoms:

• Persistent bad breath.
• Problems trying to open the mouth.
• Sore or tender gums, or pain in the jaw.
• Headache.
• Swollen or red gums near the impacted tooth.
• Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
• Persistent bad taste in the mouth.

-- Diana Kohnle