Is my wisdom tooth going to have to come out?!

Is my wisdom tooth going to have to come out?

This is a little gross, but I'd appreciate any advice.

Okay, so I'm 25 and I've got my lower two wisdom teeth. It's been years since they came in. They're slightly impacted, with the back 10-15% of the tooth under gum, but aside from occasional painless popping in my jaw (like cracking knuckles), I haven't had problems with them until the last few months.

I've started to notice a foul smell coming from under the gum over the right wisdom tooth (left one's fine). The smell comes and (mostly) goes, but it never leaves; I think it's related to food getting trapped under the gum. I try and brush a little extra back there, but the smell won't go. There's no pain at all, but occasionally I can squeeze a little whitish pus (or food residue?) out from under the gum.

I'll try and go to the dentist in a week, but I'd appreciate any advice on what the problem and solution might be. I really don't want the tooth pulled - I've heard the other teeth can shift after an extraction.

I imagine they will tell you to have the teeth out. I had exactly the same problem with impacted teeth and a couple of massive food traps that gave me a terrible taste in my mouth and probably very bad breath. I had them out in September and it was great. Smell/taste has gone and the gums settled quickly. A couple of my teeth have shifted on the bottom (molars moved backwards) but that is because I had another tooth removed at 7 yrs old and the gap had closed but the extra room made the teeth move. You won't be all gappy. The op isn't that bad. It's pretty miserable for a week on soup and mashed potatoes but it resolves itself very fast. Don't be scared of it. The drugs are amazing. What noone ever tells you is that you get really constipated afterwards from the antibiotics and soft food but I'm sure you can live with that. In summary, teeth should come out, you'll be fine.