A few days ago, I started feeling a strange pain at the back of my mouth.
At first, I thought it would go away in a day or two. But it didn’t.
Instead, it kept getting worse.
Now my wisdom tooth is finally coming out. It is around 40% out, and honestly, it feels like it has taken over my entire life.
My wisdom tooth is finally coming out. It’s around 40% out now 😭😭😭😭😭
Can’t even eat properly these days..let’s see how much longer this pain lasts
— sush (@2sush) August 6, 2026
Eating has become a challenge.
Even simple things like chewing bread or rice make me think twice.
Sometimes I eat only from one side of my mouth. Sometimes I don’t even feel like eating at all because I know the pain is waiting for me.
It sounds like a small problem until you actually experience it.
The funny part is that people call it a “wisdom” tooth.
Right now, I don’t feel any wiser.
I just feel annoyed.
My mood is off most of the day.
Even when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I notice is the pain.
And somehow, it stays with me until I go to bed.
I never realized how much one tiny tooth could affect my day.
The pain is not always sharp.
Sometimes it is just a constant irritation.
That almost makes it worse because there is no real break from it.
It follows you while eating, talking, working, and even relaxing.
This whole experience has given me a completely new level of respect for small kids.
Seriously.
How do babies go through this?
They cannot explain what they are feeling.
They cannot say, “Hey, my gums are hurting today.”
They just cry because that is the only way they know how to tell us something is wrong.
I used to feel bad for them.
Now I feel even worse.
I think about my nieces and nephews.
I remember the days when they were teething.
They were cranky, crying, refusing to eat, and waking up in the middle of the night.
Back then, I understood it only from the outside.
Now I understand it from the inside.
And trust me, it is a completely different feeling.
I even shared my wisdom tooth story with my mom, my sister, and a few friends.
That started a very interesting conversation.
Everyone had a story.
Some people told me they had the worst pain of their lives.
Their face became swollen.
They couldn’t sleep.
Some even had to get the tooth removed.
Then there were others who surprised me.
They said their wisdom teeth came out without any pain.
Some didn’t even know it had happened until they accidentally noticed the new tooth.
That made me realize something.
This experience is completely different for every person.
There is no single story.
Some people are lucky.
Some people are not.
And right now, I think I belong to the second group.
Every day feels like I am waiting for this tooth to finish its journey.
I keep checking in the mirror.
I keep hoping it has moved a little more.
It feels funny that I am actually waiting for a tooth to grow.
But when pain is involved, you start celebrating the smallest progress.
The good thing is that talking about it makes it easier.
When people share their own experiences, I feel less alone.
It reminds me that millions of people have gone through this before.
Most of them survived just fine.
So I guess I will too.
Still…
I really hope this tooth hurries up.
Because I miss eating without thinking.
I miss smiling without discomfort.
I even miss not thinking about my mouth every five minutes.
Funny how we only appreciate simple things after we lose them for a while.
So yes, this wisdom tooth has definitely taught me something.
Not wisdom.
Patience.
And empathy.
It has made me appreciate what little kids go through during teething.
It has reminded me that the same experience can feel completely different for different people.
And it has shown me how comforting it is when people share their own stories.
For now, I am just waiting.
Waiting for this little tooth to fully come out.
Waiting for the pain to finally leave.
Let’s see how much longer it takes.
If you’ve ever gone through wisdom tooth pain, I’d love to hear your story.
Was it as painful as mine?
Or were you one of the lucky people who didn’t even notice it?
And if you have any tips or suggestions that helped you get through it, please share them.
I’d really love to read your experience.
—
This post was previously published on Sushila Devi’s blog.
***
You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project:
 White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism |
 Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box |
 The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer |
 |
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
Photo credit: iStock
