An oral surgeon removed my two wisdom teeth in June. The surgical sites look fine, but one tooth sometimes aches and is sensitive to warm and hot foods and drinks. Does it take this long for sensitivity to go away? I’ve had to delay teeth whitening while waiting for the sensitivity to calm down. My dentist does not want to whiten my teeth while I still have some irritation. Should I be concerned about the sensitivity? Thank you. Simeon C. from Long Island

Simeon,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

Should You Feel Sensitivity in Wisdom Teeth Removal Sites?

Wisdom teeth removal sites may ache with exercise or physical exertion. And you may feel sensitivity to cold temperatures or foods for a few weeks after surgery. But sensitivity should not linger for months. When air, cold, or heat causes sensitivity for months, an exposed tooth root from an adjacent tooth often drives it.

Sensitivity to cold

Tooth irritation can cause mild sensitivity to cold. But if sensitivity persists for months without treatment, you have a progressive infection that will cause sensitivity to heat eventually.

Sensitivity to heat

When the pulp tissue inside a tooth begins is inflamed and infected, the bacteria release gas. And trapped gas inside the tooth causes pain. Root canal treatment will remove the infection.

Finding the Cause of Wisdom-Tooth-Socket Sensitivity

Your dentist should take an x-ray to look for signs of tooth infection in the tooth adjacent to the wisdom tooth extraction site. Sometimes, an endodontist (root canal specialist) can see signs of infection that your dentist cannot detect. So, if necessary, ask for a referral to a specialist.

After your dentist or specialist treats the problem tooth and it heals, you can begin teeth whitening treatment. Otherwise, bleaching gel would further irritate the tooth and create more sensitivity.

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post.