As you enter your late teens and early adulthood, you might experience the emergence of your third molars, also known as the wisdom teeth. These are the last teeth to grow in your mouth and usually erupt without complications. However, for many people, they can become problematic and create issues that may be painful and possibly detrimental to oral health.
If you have any signs of pain or swelling around your wisdom teeth, you cannot afford to ignore it. If you ignore the signs that your wisdom teeth require extraction, you are likely to suffer from severe consequences such as infection, pain, and misalignment of your other teeth. Therefore, you should consult with an experienced dentist who can help you avoid such problems and receive the necessary relief.
At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we are committed to providing exceptional service and treatment that is most appropriate for you. Do not let the pain of wisdom teeth hinder you from living a better life. Contact us today to book a consultation with our experienced dentist and begin your new journey towards a healthier life.
Defining Wisdom Teeth
Your third molars are also called wisdom teeth because they typically come through later in life. These late bloomers appear at the age of 17–25 years, and they are the leftovers from when our ancestors required four additional teeth to chew on hard plant matter and raw meat. Over the years, people have changed their diets and the structure of their jaws, thus reducing the need for third molars.
At times, wisdom teeth erupt without complications and develop in parallel to the rest of the teeth. However, because of the evolutionary changes in the size and shape of the jaws, there may not be enough room for these teeth to erupt correctly. This lack of space can lead to various complications, and therefore, wisdom teeth are more of a liability than an asset in today’s mouths.
Signs that Your Wisdom Teeth are Coming In
Some of the signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in include the following:
When You Experience Mild Discomfort
One of the first signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in is mild discomfort or pressure in the back area of your mouth, where your molars are. This soreness may be fleeting at first, but as the wisdom teeth emerge fully through your gums, the pain may become more chronic.
Inflammation or Sensitivity of Your Gums
You are also likely to experience inflammation or sensitivity of the gums in the region where your wisdom teeth are growing. The gums may also become swollen and bright red, which makes brushing and flossing in that area very sensitive.
You are Unable to Open Your Mouth Wide
Another sign is if you cannot open your mouth wide or feel a lot of pain when chewing because the new teeth may exert pressure against the other molars, making them feel crowded.
You Experience Constant Headaches or Earaches
You may also have headaches or earaches because the pressure of the growing teeth travels through the head and jaw.
Some pain is experienced when the wisdom teeth are pushing through the gums, but severe or consistent pain indicates a problem such as impaction or infection. You should seek the services of a dentist in the early stages so that these issues can be dealt with to prevent the situation from worsening, hence maintaining good oral health.
Reasons Your Dentist Might Recommend Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are usually extracted to help prevent or treat diseases such as periodontitis of the mouth. You do not need to have your wisdom teeth pulled out. However, several situations might warrant you, especially where your wisdom teeth are a nuisance to the general health of your teeth. These situations include:
Having an Impacted Wisdom Teeth
One main reason for wisdom teeth extraction is impaction. An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has not fully emerged through the gum line due to some reason, such as a lack of space in the mouth or the fact that it is growing at an angle.
This condition could result in several complications; thus, the extraction of the impacted tooth becomes inevitable in some cases. They can become entirely trapped beneath your gum line or partially erupt, which could cause pain, swelling, and a possible infection. Your impacted wisdom teeth could also exert pressure on neighboring teeth, leading to misalignment of teeth and damage to other tooth structures.
Your Wisdom Teeth Crowding
Another major factor that could lead to the extraction of the third molars is crowding. If your mouth cannot contain another set of molars, the eruption of wisdom teeth could cause your other teeth to shift positions, causing them to misalign.
This can erase all the efforts made to align your teeth. For example, through braces, this could result in a crowded and uneven smile. The pressure from these late bloomers could lead to crooked teeth, bite issues, or disruptions of your dental arch. Crowding can sometimes lead to cavities and gum diseases because crowded teeth are not easily accessible for proper cleaning.
The pressure could also cause your other teeth to become impacted, resulting in more pain and discomfort. If you notice that your teeth are shifting or you feel a lot of pressure at the back of your mouth, you must consult your dentist. Your dentist will help determine whether your wisdom teeth must be extracted early.
Gum Diseases and Cavities
Wisdom teeth are especially prone to cavities and gum disease because they are located at the very rear of your mouth. This location makes cleaning difficult, even if you brush or floss your teeth regularly. Consequently, it is possible for plaque and bacteria to form and grow on and in between these teeth, which results in decay and infections.
Cavities in the wisdom teeth can occur very fast, especially when the teeth are only partially erupted. When a tooth has only emerged partially, it forms a gap that provides a breeding ground for bacteria and potential food deposits. This environment is perfect for the growth of pathogenic bacteria that cause tooth decay. If the cavities in the wisdom teeth are not treated early, the decay can progress to other teeth close to the wisdom teeth and cause more severe dental problems.
Gingivitis and periodontitis are other issues associated with wisdom teeth. If plaque accumulates around the wisdom teeth, it can cause gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease in which the gums become red, swollen, and bleed.
If left untreated, gingivitis can become periodontitis, which is worse and can harm the gums and the bones holding your teeth. Gum disease can also lead to tooth loss and other severe health complications.
Early Signs that You Should Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted
When your wisdom teeth start to become an issue, they can present many signs and symptoms. This is why you should pay attention to these signs early enough so they do not cause more significant issues in the future. Some of the early signs that you should have your wisdom teeth extracted include the following:
Swollen Gums
Swelling in the gums, especially at the back of the mouth, is one of the initial symptoms that should alert you to seek dental assistance for a possible removal of your wisdom teeth. This inflammation is usually characterized by pain and sometimes swelling and reddening of the gum line, making it uncomfortable to brush or floss around this area. Swollen gums can also be a sign of infection, especially if they are warm to the touch or produce pus.
Extreme Pain
If you experience pain or discomfort in the back of your mouth, especially if it is severe or ongoing, it may be time to have your wisdom teeth extracted. This pain can be attributed to the pressure exerted by the wisdom teeth against the neighboring teeth or if the tooth has partially erupted and developed an infection. The pain may also be felt in other areas of the mouth, jaw, or even in the head, which makes it difficult to carry out your daily tasks.
Jaw Issues
It is very common for wisdom teeth to lead to jaw issues, such as stiffness, an inability to open the mouth wide, and pain when chewing. When the wisdom teeth attempt to grow through the gum, they exert pressure on the jawbone, causing pain and even altering the bite. At times, cysts may develop around the impacted teeth and compromise the health of the jawbone and the adjacent teeth.
Teeth Crowding
The eruption of wisdom teeth may cause shifting of your existing teeth. If you find that your teeth begin to shift or to overlap, particularly after you have gone through orthodontic treatment, then your wisdom teeth may be causing your teeth to shift out of alignment. Therefore, it warrants that you have your wisdom teeth removed.
Increased Pressure on Your Sinuses
Interestingly, wisdom teeth can also impact your sinuses. If they are located in the upper jaw, the roots of the wisdom teeth can put pressure on the sinuses, which causes increased pressure, headaches, and congestion. This pressure tends to increase over time as the teeth grow further, thus requiring that they be removed to eliminate such symptoms.
Recurrent Cavities
If you have recurrent cavities in your wisdom teeth or adjacent teeth, you may need to have them removed. The surface of the wisdom teeth is almost impossible to clean, making them vulnerable to cavities. If decay is left to progress in these teeth, it can cause serious oral health issues.
Recurring Tooth Infections
If you frequently experience infections around your wisdom teeth, it is high time to go for an extraction. When bacteria penetrate the region around a partially impacted tooth, you may experience pain and swelling, and the infection may even spread to other parts of your mouth or body. This could lead to even worse consequences, such as loss of bone and gums or loss of teeth.
Difficulty while Eating
Another sign that you might need to have your wisdom teeth extracted is if you are experiencing some level of difficulty while chewing or if you find that food is always getting caught around the area of your wisdom teeth. Pain during eating means the wisdom teeth are pushing against other teeth or an infection is present to make eating painful.
Crooked Teeth
When wisdom teeth start to grow, they exert pressure on your other teeth, which may result in crooked teeth. This can be quite irritating, especially if you have had braces sometime in the past only to find that your teeth are beginning to shift again as a result of pressure from the wisdom teeth.
Cyst Growth
An impacted wisdom tooth may lead to the formation of cysts or tumors around the affected areas. If neglected, these cysts can cause considerable harm to the jawbone, teeth, and nerves.
Jaw Stiffness or Pain
Any continuous discomfort or tightness in the jaw joint while swallowing or while opening or closing the mouth may indicate the presence of wisdom teeth problems. This discomfort may be a result of the pressure that the teeth exert on your jaws or as a result of an infection that causes inflammation.
Constant Headaches
Your wisdom teeth can cause headaches when they are impacted or when they affect the position of other teeth. The pressure and pain from the teeth can go up to the head through the jaw, resulting in tension headaches or even migraines.
Find a Northridge Dentist Near Me
It is crucial to be aware of the symptoms that may require the extraction of your wisdom teeth to ensure proper dental care. Failure to address such symptoms may result in developing complications such as periodontal infections, tooth decay, and even to neighboring teeth and jaw bone. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, or shifting teeth, then you need to see an experienced dentist as soon as possible.
Here at Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we have extensive experience in assessing and extracting impacted wisdom teeth while providing optimal care throughout the process. Do not wait until the pain gets worse or some complications develop. If you have any concerns with your wisdom teeth, we encourage you to call us today at 818-701-3010 to set up an appointment.
