By Dr Nishma Kotecha, dentist
Dua Lipa has spent the weekend being the most cultured person in London. She curated this year's London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, and on Saturday she sat down with Zadie Smith at a sold-out Royal Festival Hall, as the Guardian reported. They even talked about Smith's debut novel, White Teeth, which, it turns out, she's never reread. As a dentist, I could not have asked for a better title. Pop star, podcaster, festival curator. Is there anything Dua can't do?
Well, there was one thing. Back in 2018, she couldn't sing through her wisdom teeth.
The short answer: in March 2018, Dua Lipa cancelled two shows supporting Bruno Mars in Australia, explaining she'd been "performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth" and that her dentist and oral surgeon advised they be removed straight away. Most wisdom teeth never need that kind of drama. Plenty sit quietly for life. But some signs mean a wisdom tooth shouldn't be left: pain that's getting worse, swelling, a bad taste, a temperature, or trouble opening your mouth or swallowing. (For the full picture, see my guide to wisdom tooth pain, and my breakdown of when wisdom tooth pain is an infection or an emergency.)
What did Dua Lipa actually say?
On 14 March 2018, Dua posted an apology to fans on Twitter. As reported by the Official Charts Company, she wrote: "I'm so sorry to have to cancel some of my support shows with Bruno Mars." She explained: "I've been performing with an awful pain due to my wisdom teeth," and said that "as advised by my dentist and oral surgeon I have had to have them imminently removed."
That meant pulling out of two shows in Brisbane on the Australian leg of Bruno Mars' 24K Magic tour.
Two things jump out at me. First, she'd been performing through it. Singing to arenas with wisdom tooth pain is a level of commitment I don't recommend. Second, she listened to her dentist and her oral surgeon, even when it meant cancelling. That's the bit I'd like everyone to copy.
What she didn't say is exactly what was wrong with her wisdom teeth, and I'm not going to guess. But her story is a brilliant way to talk about when a wisdom tooth is just being annoying, and when it's telling you something.
Why do wisdom teeth cause so much trouble?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, usually in your late teens or twenties. By then, the rest of your teeth have already moved in and claimed the space. So wisdom teeth often arrive like the last guest at a packed party: there's no chair left, and they end up stuck half in the doorway.
When a wisdom tooth can't come through properly, it's described as impacted. It might be tilted, trapped under the gum, or only partly through. And that's where the problems start.
The NHS lists the common issues as:
- infection in the gum around the tooth, called pericoronitis
- food getting stuck around the tooth
- tooth decay (if you're not sure what that looks like, here's what a cavity looks like)
- gum disease
- a build-up of fluid around the tooth, called a cyst
- a dental abscess (which isn't the same as a gum boil, as I explain in dental abscess vs gum boil)
A partly-through wisdom tooth is a magnet for food and bacteria, and it's right at the back where it's hardest to brush. Which is why the gum flap over it can get sore, swollen and infected.
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
No, and I want to be really clear about this.
According to the NHS, if a wisdom tooth isn't causing problems, it will usually be left where it is and monitored at your routine check-ups. Lots of people have wisdom teeth that never cause a single issue.
Removal is usually considered when a wisdom tooth is causing problems that keep coming back, or when there's decay, infection, a cyst or damage to the tooth next door. An X-ray helps your dentist see how the tooth is sitting before anything is decided.
So an awkward wisdom tooth on its own isn't a reason to panic. It's how it behaves that matters.
5 signs your wisdom tooth shouldn't wait
Most wisdom tooth niggles come and go. A bit of tenderness when it's moving, a sore gum after food gets stuck. Rinsing and good cleaning often settle those down. But these five signs mean it's time to get it looked at promptly, not in a few weeks.
1. The pain is getting worse, not better
A wisdom tooth that aches for a day and settles is one thing. Pain that builds day after day, keeps you awake, or isn't controlled by normal painkillers is another. The NHS says to get urgent help if pain and swelling are severe or getting worse and painkillers aren't helping.
Dua said she'd been performing with an "awful pain". If your wisdom tooth pain has gone from "annoying" to "awful", don't wait it out.
2. Swelling in your gum, cheek or jaw
Some puffiness of the gum around a wisdom tooth is common. But swelling that spreads into your cheek or jaw, or keeps getting bigger, can be a sign of infection. That needs seeing quickly.
3. A bad taste or pus
A foul taste that won't go away, or pus coming from around the tooth, often means infection, either in the gum flap or as a dental abscess. An abscess won't clear up on its own, so it needs treatment.
4. A high temperature or feeling unwell
If your wisdom tooth pain comes with a temperature, chills or feeling generally rubbish, that's your body telling you the infection may be spreading. Don't ignore it.
5. Struggling to open your mouth or swallow
Difficulty opening your mouth fully, or pain when you swallow, can mean swelling and infection are affecting the muscles and tissues around your jaw. That's a sign to get urgent advice.
If you've got any of these, contact your dentist the same day if you can. If your dentist is closed or you don't have one, call NHS 111 for advice. And if you're not sure whether something counts as urgent, I've put together a guide on what to do in a dental emergency, and this is what an emergency dentist appointment is for.
When to call 999 or go to A&E
Some symptoms mean an infection could be affecting your airway or spreading. The NHS dental abscess guidance says to call 999 or go to A&E if you have:
- difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing
- a swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your eyesight
- a lot of swelling in your mouth
- difficulty opening your mouth
These are rare, but they're serious. Don't wait for a dental appointment.
Can wisdom tooth pain spread to your ear or jaw?
Yes, and it often confuses people. Lower wisdom teeth sit right at the back of the jaw, and pain from them can feel like it's in your ear, your jaw joint or even your head. I've explained why in toothache spreading to your ear, jaw or head.
What can you do while you wait to be seen?
For a sore wisdom tooth, the NHS suggests:
- taking paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed on the packet
- rinsing gently with warm salt water or mouthwash to keep the area clean
- eating soft food and avoiding anything hard or crunchy
- brushing carefully around the area, even if it's sore, so food doesn't build up
These help with comfort. They don't fix an infection, so if any of the five signs above apply, still get it checked.
What happens if your wisdom tooth does need to come out?
If removal is needed, your dentist will usually take an X-ray first to see how the tooth is positioned. Some wisdom teeth can be removed at a dental practice, while more complicated ones may need an oral surgeon, like Dua's.
It's usually done under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb. You'll feel pressure, but it shouldn't be painful. If you're anxious about it, tell your dentist. Help for nervous patients is a normal part of dentistry.
Afterwards, some swelling and discomfort for a few days is normal. My guide to tooth extraction covers the process, and I've also explained what a normal socket looks like after an extraction, so you know what to expect while it heals.
A few quick questions
Why did Dua Lipa cancel her shows? In March 2018, she said she'd been performing with "an awful pain" from her wisdom teeth and that her dentist and oral surgeon advised they be removed straight away.
Do wisdom teeth always need removing? No. If they're not causing problems, they're usually left alone and monitored at check-ups.
When is wisdom tooth pain urgent? When pain is severe or getting worse, there's swelling, a bad taste or pus, a temperature, or trouble opening your mouth or swallowing.
Can a wisdom tooth infection go away on its own? Mild gum soreness can settle with good cleaning, but an abscess won't clear by itself and needs treatment.
The verdict
Dua Lipa cancelled concerts for her wisdom teeth, and her oral surgeon agreed it couldn't wait. Most wisdom teeth will never need that kind of urgency. But if yours is getting worse, swelling, tasting bad or making you feel unwell, take a leaf out of her book: listen to your body, listen to your dentist, and don't try to sing through it.
This article is general information based on public reporting. It is not personal dental advice. Dua Lipa and the London Literature Festival have no connection with this article.
