Can you live with a decaying tooth?

[honeyb33]

Worried as I have noticed discolouration (black and brown stains) to the side of a partially erupted wisdom tooth. It isn't causing pain but it is a little sensitive if I try chewing tough food on that side.
I've tried getting a dentist appointment and the soonest they can see me is a month away. Having spoken to a friend who recently had a wisdom tooth out at the hospital, I know she had to wait almost a year from referral to actually having it removed.
Honestly I'm worried. I have two holidays planned, loads of work commitments and all I can keep thinking is if/when this becomes painful or infected it's going to cause me big problems and disruption.
Has anyone had similar and been able to live with it for a while, at least until you can get it removed? If it became super painful and problematic in the interim period would it be classed as an emergency? I've read that wisdom teeth infections can turn nasty very quickly and even be fatal.
Just wish I could see the dentist sooner. Because so far it isn't hurting or causing issues they have said it isn't urgent :-(

discolouration could be coffee or tea stains maybe?

if you're that worried say it's sensitive and see if they bring the appointment forwards.

I would also say if you keep using salt water rinses it will help keep it clean.

Thank you I'm being extra vigilant with brushing and using mouthwash but will try saltwater too. I'm just really worried about what would happen if it goes downhill fast and I have months to wait for it to be removed. Hoping it is just staining but it's hard to tell. Parts of it look a bit black which isn't good.

Mine is like this. It flared up once last year so I was put on the big waiting list to have it removed. Was also given antibiotics.

My dentist will see you for pain more or less straight away so if it does become really painful I’m sure you’ll be able to get in to see them.

I wasn’t worried about mine but now am slightly after reading this

Please don't worry. If it's causing you pain you should see another dentist as an urgency. The tooth may not need removal. It may be infected or it may be damaging the tooth in front.
I had one that was dark coloured and I thought it was rotten. Dentist said it was just discoloured bc the shape makes it harder to clean. He cleaned it professionally and it feels/looks much better now.
I also had a wisdom tooth come out the other week, it just came out like a baby tooth, fully in tact! They are actually usually much smaller than the other teeth, with only one root. So removal can often be very easy and painless. My DH had all 4 out and it took a few minutes and no pain or discomfort at all.

Look to see if you have a dental hospital in your area. If so, you can call them to have an urgent appointment if it gets bad. Dental hospitals are free. Many also have a drop in facility. They are normally near a local large hospital and affiliated with the lo al university, so easy to find

I've had 2 discoloured wisdom teeth for about 30 years. I'm still here.

No dental hospital near me unfortunately, already checked :-(
Hopefully if it isn't causing pain it's not too serious (yet) and I can hold on for a month to see the dentist. I'm just worried that the wait to have it removed at hospital will be ridiculous and in the meantime it may cause infections and problems. I'll admit I've frightened myself by googling and found lots of articles saying that oral infections (especially wisdom teeth) can lead to serious health issues, sepsis etc.

lol this actually makes me feel much better.

Someone would definitely see you before you got to sepsis stage OP. Please don’t worry.

Same here, I had a barely erupted wisdom tooth and was afraid to have it taken out... took the care you take for 7 years before I braved it, you will be fine to wait for your appt before making a plan I think if you are otherwise quite well.

I wouldn't worry about it. It is a bit of a jump to go from discoloured tooth to sepsis/death, maybe step away from Google.

I have a tooth with some decay in it, dentist put a watch on it 12 months ago and it's not gotten any worse, i've been very vigilant with brushing it and using Regenerate Hypersensitivity Toothpaste, while no one can confirm it's helping the dentist did say at my last appointment that a tooth that had previously had softer enamel had started to re harden, i'm taking from that the toothpaste is doing some good as my diet etc hasn't changed.

Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed at the hospital OP. I had two taken out at the hospital due to the shapes of the roots, but one was just taken out at the dentist. So chances are even if yours need to be taken out, your dentist can do it. I'm super panicky about anything to do with my teeth, so I get where you're coming from, but until your tooth starts causing you a pain, try not to worry about it. And when it becomes actually painful, book an emergency appointment! I had a big hole in my wisdom tooth and had about 6 weeks between detecting it and taking it out and it was all fine. I didn't even know there was a hole, it was picked up with an xray! The dentist told me to just rub a bit of toothpaste around it at night and leave it without rinsing to tie me over until they took it out.