Many people are surprised to learn that their wisdom teeth will only start coming through the gum between the ages of 16 and 25. Sometimes referred to as third molars, the pain associated with growing wisdom teeth can be excruciating.
In some instances, young people experience complications with their wisdom teeth which will see them heading for the emergency dental Mornington Peninsula clinics offer. What are wisdom teeth? Why do they only appear so many years after other teeth? And when should you have them removed?
Firstly, What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the molars situated right at the back of your mouth. As we’ve already highlighted, these teeth only come through in your late teens or early twenties. It’s at this age that the maxillary and mandibular bones have grown enough to accommodate the additional molars.
Modern man has no real purpose for these teeth. Our ancestors needed them to grind raw plants, nuts, and tough meats for better digestion. Since modern food preparation softens food and we also use eating utensils to cut our food into smaller pieces, we don’t need our wisdom teeth. They are, however, only removed if they are causing complications in your mouth.
Typical Complications Associated With Wisdom Teeth
It’s not a hard and fast rule that wisdom teeth must be removed the minute they show up. The only reason they are ever removed is if there are complications as a result of them pushing through.
The main complication stems from the average person not having enough space in their mouth for these extra teeth. This is referred to as dental crowding. However, a few other issues that may arise include the following:
- Pain or swelling around the area where the tooth is trying to push through
- Tooth decay that is being caused by not being able to properly reach the wisdom teeth to clean them.
- Bad breath which seems to have started at the same time as the wisdom teeth started coming through.
- Infection stemming from tears in the gum where the tooth is.
- Impaction caused by wisdom teeth that are stuck in the gum.
- Swollen, bleeding gums that don’t heal because the wisdom teeth are stuck.
Don’t Ignore Wisdom Tooth Pain
If your or one of your kid’s wisdom teeth appear to be causing pain, it’s essential to take them to the dentist for removal. If their wisdom teeth are causing pain so early on, it’s almost guaranteed that it will only get worse as they age. Here are the top reasons why painful wisdom teeth should be removed sooner rather than later.
1. Continuous Jaw Pain
For most people, the presence of molars causes extensive jaw pain. This is primarily caused by impaction which refers to teeth that are stuck in the jaw bone or gum tissue. Impaction usually happens when there isn’t enough space for the tooth to come through the way it’s supposed to.
2. Unexplained Sinus Issues
Since wisdom teeth come through in the furthest part of your mouth, the ones in the upper jaw are usually very close to the sinus cavity. The roots of impacted wisdom teeth can lean toward the sinus cavity creating nerve pressure which causes severe and consistent sinus issues. You may think you have developed a chronic sinus infection or sinusitis, but you’re actually dealing with an impacted wisdom tooth root.
3. Issues With Oral Hygiene
It’s simple enough to maintain good oral hygiene, especially if you can reach all the teeth that need to be cleaned. However, since third molars are situated at the very back of the mouth it can be difficult to keep them clean or to reach them to floss.
This makes them more susceptible to developing plaque, creating bad breath, and causing gum disease. If any of these issues started happening around the time your wisdom teeth erupted, there may be a connection. Speak to your dentist about possibly removing them.
4. Dental Shifting
Dental shifting happens when your wisdom teeth force their way into your gum line. The other teeth in your mouth will start shifting to make way for your teeth. This not only causes discomfort but can also damage surrounding teeth and root systems. Feelings of uncomfortable pressure in the back of the mouth are tell-tale signs that your wisdom teeth are forcing other teeth out.
5. Existing Dental Issues
If the individual in question already has existing dental issues, the dentist may decide to remove the wisdom teeth as soon as they come through. This will be done as a preventative measure to reduce the likelihood of them aggravating other current issues.
Final Thoughts
Teenagers should visit their dentists often to check for signs of wisdom teeth coming through. This will enable the dentist to assess whether these teeth will have enough space or are likely to become impacted.
People who already have wisdom teeth should keep an eye out for the symptoms we’ve highlighted. Removing troublesome wisdom teeth can save you a lot of pain and money down the line.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.