4 Things To Know About Wisdom Teeth

Posted on: 25 May 2021

Are you getting to the age where your wisdom teeth are starting to come in? If so, you likely have questions about these third molars that will likely need to be removed.

Your Wisdom Teeth Will Likely Need To Be Removed

If you think that you will luck out and not need to have your wisdom teeth removed, think again. That's because 85% of people end up having their wisdom teeth removed at some point. While it is possible that you don't have complications and they grow just fine, know that the odds are against you. The best way to know if you will have complications is to go to your dentist regularly and have x-rays taken.

Your Wisdom Teeth May Not Grow In

Know that it is possible that you have wisdom teeth that do not grow in at all. This is something that can be inherited from family members, so if one of your parents didn't have wisdom teeth, it is possible that they were not passed down to you genetically. It is also possible to be missing individual wisdom teeth and not have a full set of four grow in.

Your Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Complications

There are multiple reasons why your wisdom teeth will need to be removed, and most of the time it is done proactively because your dentist knows that there will be problems later on. An incredibly common problem is impaction and overcrowding. This is when the wisdom teeth are growing in sideways and will eventually collide with your second molars, or the teeth are going to push your other adult teeth and cause your mouth to be overcrowded. Both are situations that can be avoided by having the teeth extracted.

Other problems include having swollen gums, a sore jaw, pain, and even bad breath. These symptoms can come and go as well, so do not assume that subsiding pain means that you are in the clear.

Your Wisdom Teeth Can Be Hard To Care For

Even if you do have your wisdom teeth come in without complications, know that these teeth are going to be harder to care for. Their placement in the back of your mouth often means that you are going to have a harder time brushing around all the surfaces and even flossing to remove plaque that is along the gum line. This makes your wisdom teeth more susceptible to becoming infected and having cavities over time. Some people prefer to have their wisdom teeth removed to avoid these potential complications later on in life.

To learn if you have wisdom teeth that need to be removed, speak with your family dentist.

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When my three children were young, they were all excited to go to the dentist. The dentist's office was great fun with a large fish tank and a variety of puzzle toys in the waiting room. I liked the pediatric dental office so much that I jumped at the chance when I was offered a receptionist job. Many of the children who came to see the dentist were not nearly as happy as my children. Most kids were scared and anxious, and I learned fairly quickly that the children were worried because they had no idea what to expect. The dentist at the office provided me with a set of dental tools that I could show to the children. I explained how each of the devices worked. This eased the fears, and I started this blog so parents could share dental information with their children before dental visits.

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