Between the ages of 17 and 21 — although it can be sooner or much later — you’re likely to have a new arrival in your mouth.
Wisdom teeth are not always welcome, but most people get them. A lot of people decide to ignore them.
While it is possible for wisdom teeth to grow in and cause minimal issues, there’s a higher chance they’re going to cause at least some discomfort or pain. There are many signs, both minor and major, that you should see a dentist to have them removed.
Be on the lookout for your wisdom teeth appearing and know when it’s time for wisdom teeth removal.
1. Excessive Irritation of the Gums
Irritation of the gums is common. Periodontitis makes an appearance in many people, and the symptom of red, swollen gums is a tell-tale sign you need to see your dentist for a cleaning and take care to brush and floss around the area afterward.
However, it’s important to recognize when the irritation might not be gum disease.
If the irritation is occurring at the back of the mouth and seems to be worse than a case of gum disease, it might be because your wisdom teeth are coming in.
After wisdom teeth removal, the irritation will lessen — in fact, if the teeth breaking through your gums are causing that irritation, this is the only solution.
Many people brush the irritation off as something they can live with because wisdom teeth removal sounds like a nerve-wracking concept, but the surgery is a breeze compared to the tender gums!
2. Extreme Pain Around the Area
Sometimes the signs can go further than an irritation. Sometimes your wisdom teeth will announce their appearance by being extremely painful.
An obvious sign that pain in your mouth is caused by erupting or impacted wisdom teeth is when it starts at the back of your mouth — but it doesn’t always remain there. The pain from wisdom teeth can spread since they can press on your sinuses, disturb your jaw, and even cause chronic headaches.
Although it might be tempting to take some painkillers and hope the pain goes away, it’s not a good idea. Although the pain might ebb and flow when it comes to wisdom teeth, it’s likely to always return in some form.
The only sure way to get rid of it is by getting rid of the cause.
See a dentist, schedule the surgery, and eat approved wisdom teeth removal food for a while afterward and that pain will soon disappear!
3. Bad Breath or Taste in the Mouth
Bad breath can be caused by a variety of things, even as far down as a stomach ulcer, but did you know it can also be caused by your wisdom teeth?
When a wisdom tooth becomes to erupt through the gum, it can cause pockets in the back of the mouth that are difficult to reach with a regular toothbrush.
When this happens, bacteria can build up there very fast, which means you might taste something bad in the back of your mouth or experience bad breath.
These pockets can be cleaned by a dentist but even afterward, the bacteria will build up again fast no matter how hard you brush or floss.
Removing the wisdom tooth takes away the pocket that the bacteria are living in, and leaves your whole mouth accessible to your toothbrush again!
4. Difficulty Opening Your Mouth or Eating
Sometimes, your jaw can become stiff because of your wisdom teeth coming in — and for this and other reasons, it can become difficult to eat.
You might constantly bite down on your tongue or the inside of your cheek because your wisdom teeth have moved the others out of alignment. Worse still, it might simply be too painful to eat.
You don’t have to live with this — everyone should be able to eat the foods they love (within reason, of course).
Having them removed will help you immensely. Although you’ll have to check out what specific foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal to help the healing process, after the surgery, you’ll soon be back to eating what you love!
5. When Your Dentist Suggests It
Although your symptoms may be incredibly minor or you may not have felt them at all, it’s important to listen to your dentist. They might see the first signs of wisdom teeth coming through or spot looming problems that you haven’t yet felt.
It can be tempting to put off the surgery or try to avoid it altogether because the word ‘surgery’ is scary — but having it done can be preventative and save you a lot of problems in the long run.
Whether you’ve felt your wisdom teeth coming through and visited your dentist for that reason, or it’s been brought up during another check-up, it’s time to listen if a professional says you should consider having them removed.
People often worry about the wisdom teeth removal cost, but your dentist can discuss every finance option with you if that’s your concern.
They serve no purpose, and it’s only going to help you in the long run!
Wisdom Teeth Removal Sounds Scary, but It Doesn’t Have to Be!
Wisdom teeth removal sounds scary because it’s technically a surgery — but it’s a minor one with a very low risk of complications, so you shouldn’t be worried if your dentist decides you should schedule it.
The problems that can come from wisdom teeth can often end up far worse than the surgery itself, so get that one day over with and your mouth will thank you for it!
If you’re looking for a trustworthy dental surgery in Newbury, California, contact us today!