Health Tip: Do You Have an Impacted Tooth?

ByABC News
April 15, 2009, 11:08 AM

April 16 -- (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.

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.