Is Your Wisdom Tooth Infected? A Complete Symptom Checklist

Larrylowther30 Mar, 2026Health

A sore wisdom tooth can be easy to dismiss at first. For many people, the early signs of wisdom teeth coming in are mild: pressure at the back of the mouth, a tender gum line, and a bit of irritation when chewing. The picture changes when pain becomes stronger, swelling lingers, or a bad taste appears. Partially erupted or trapped third molars are harder to clean, which means food and bacteria can collect around the gum and trigger infection, often called pericoronitis. Lower wisdom teeth are especially prone to this because they commonly erupt later and are more likely to be impacted.