Wisdom teeth are an antiquated evolutionary trait that is notoriously problematic for modern humans and often causes dental health complications. Dentists and oral surgeons recommend that you remove wisdom teeth as soon as they emerge in your late teens or early twenties. If you skip your six-month dental exams or only visit the dentist once a year, your wisdom teeth may be growing without your knowledge and disrupting your oral health.
9 CLEAR SIGNS YOU NEED TO REMOVE WISDOM TEETH – 2022
You should remove wisdom teeth because you don’t need them, and your mouth probably doesn’t have enough space to accommodate four additional teeth. If you visit your dentist every six months, your wisdom teeth are more likely to be identified and removed before they cause problems. But, even if you see your dentist regularly, you might only become aware of your wisdom teeth from one of the nine signs listed below. If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, schedule a consultation to determine if you need a wisdom tooth extraction:
#1. Wisdom Tooth Impaction
Wisdom tooth impaction is when the third molars grow without fully emerging through your gums. They often will grow at an odd angle and emerge crooked, causing damage to your healthy neighboring teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes grow 180 degrees in the wrong direction into the jaw, causing jawbone cysts, oral infections, and gum disease. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth cause discomfort, whereas you might be completely unaware of the impaction in other cases. An impacted wisdom tooth is often the cause of many following symptoms and signs below.
#2. Gum Inflammation
Gum inflammation can occur when food, plaque, and bacteria get underneath your gum tissue. Swollen or inflamed gums are a clear and common sign that your wisdom teeth might be impacted or partially emerged. The tissue around your teeth in the back of your mouth will become swollen, red in color, and sensitive to the touch. Inflamed gum tissue is one of the most common indications to get a wisdom teeth extraction as soon as possible.
#3. Stiff Jaw
Stiffness in the jaw is a common sign that your wisdom teeth are placing pressure on your jaw as they crowd your healthy teeth. The stiffness and immobility can eventually shift to pain in your jaw as the wisdom teeth continue to press against your other teeth. Contact your dentist or oral surgeon for a wisdom tooth exam as soon as you notice any stiffness or discomfort in your jaw.
#4. Jaw Pain
Your wisdom teeth may be impacted if you have pain in the back of your jaw or experience difficulty opening your mouth. Since your jaw does not naturally have enough space for more than 28 teeth, wisdom teeth often cannot emerge correctly without disturbing your healthy teeth. So, wisdom teeth sometimes appear at extreme angles that prevent your top and bottom teeth from meeting in the correct position.
#5. Oral Cysts
Cysts are sacs of fluid that develop in your oral tissue, gums, and jaw if impacted wisdom teeth are left untreated. Eventually, cysts will cause the roots of neighboring teeth to rot and damage the jawbone. In some cases, oral cysts can develop into tumors and require jaw surgery and other more invasive treatments.
#6. Pain or Sensitivity Near the Back of Your Mouth When Brushing
Pain or sensitivity around the teeth in the back of your mouth is a clear sign that you may be getting your wisdom teeth. When you brush your teeth or eat a meal, are the teeth in the back of your mouth sensitive to pressure and temperature? If you can’t brush or chew without wincing, it’s time to consider a wisdom tooth extraction before the problem gets worse.
#7. Decay in Adjacent Teeth
Wisdom teeth disrupt and damage healthy teeth, leading to tooth decay. Neglecting to extract your wisdom teeth can become detrimental to the rest of your healthy teeth as they are gradually pushed out of place and exposed to harmful bacteria. If you decide to ignore or bear through the sensitivity or pain in your mouth, you are setting yourself up for a world of pain and dental problems.
#8. Persistently Bad Breath or Taste in Your Mouth
If you walk around all day with a bad taste in your mouth, your wisdom teeth may have caused decay to adjacent teeth, and you likely have a rotting tooth. Tooth rot and decay attract wound-infecting bacteria, creating sulfur compounds that smell bad and are bad for your health. A clear sign that your wisdom teeth need to be removed is persistent bad breath.
#9. Sinus Problems
You may not realize how close your sinus floor is to your upper jawbone near the back of your mouth. If allowed to develop, the roots of wisdom teeth can grow through the jaw and damage your sinus floor. Your wisdom teeth may be causing you to experience frequent congestion, headaches, sinus pressure, or sinus pain. And, if you decide to keep your wisdom teeth, these health issues and others can develop at any time in the future.
DO YOU NEED TO GET YOUR WISDOM TEETH REMOVED?
The short answer is yes, and the sooner, the better. Wisdom teeth are troublemakers, and the longer you give for the roots to develop, the more difficult it is to extract your wisdom teeth. Don’t wait until you have pain or dental complications. Call our office to schedule a consultation and remove your wisdom teeth before they harm your oral health.
Have more questions? Read our Wisdom Teeth FAQ page to learn more.
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Posted by aswamy on May 18th, 2022 11:00 am
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