What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to erupt. They come through between the ages of 17-25 when people are presumably wiser. Hence the term, wisdom teeth.

Seeing wisdom teeth or the back molars break through the gums is a dental milestone. When they show up in their proper position, they can be valuable to the mouth. But when they erupt at an awkward angle, they can cause serious dental problems and require removal.

In some cases, your dentist may even recommend extractions even before the back molars come through. But, how will you know if your wisdom teeth are about to erupt? And how can properly aligned wisdom teeth be helpful?

Signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in

Wisdom teeth are present at the top and bottom teeth. Some may see their wisdom teeth erupt earlier or later. Some have all sets complete, and some may not have them at all.

Here are some signs that your wisdom teeth are about to come in:

• Soreness. You may feel pain at the back of your jaw, which can become more prominent as the eruption comes close.
• Gum irritation. You may also notice swelling and tenderness in your gums.
• Redness. The area where the teeth are to come in is likely to appear red or darker.
• Pain. You may also feel the pain radiate to nearby body parts, such as your eyes and ears.

During your routine dental checkups, your dentist can determine whether your wisdom teeth are about to erupt. If they find out that the teeth are likely to cause problems, they may recommend removal.

The earlier the wisdom teeth get removed, the easier the procedure is as the roots aren’t fully developed yet, and bones are less dense.

The importance of wisdom teeth

You may be wondering about the importance of wisdom teeth and why they can be removed.

The wisdom teeth are a valuable part of the mouth, especially for primitive men. Their diet consisted of rough and tough food, which required heavy chewing and forces to break apart.

Without tools, they relied heavily on their mouth to refine and digest their food more easily.

Today, technology allows us to break down food into smaller chunks with ease. Food doesn’t have to be consumed rough or coarse. The demand for wisdom teeth has then decreased over time as people no longer depend on them that much.

That’s why not everyone sees their back molars erupt, and some experience issues as the teeth try to come in. Impacted wisdom teeth or wisdom teeth that don't fully erupt can cause infection to develop and spread to adjacent teeth and nearby structures.

Caring for your wisdom teeth

If your wisdom teeth erupt without issues, you’re free to keep them. However, you need to monitor and protect them against potential dental issues.

Since back molars have crevices or fissures, debris can get trapped in them more easily. This makes them more prone to decay and cavities.

Flossing, brushing, proper diet, and regular dental visits are crucial to keep the wisdom teeth in good condition and maintain good oral health.

If you’re in Winnipeg, MB, and are looking for a new dentist, please feel free to contact us today at (204) 663-3423.

Our team at Aqua Dental Wellness has been providing dental care services to Winnipeg residents for over 30 years now, and we’re more than happy to serve more of our neighbors.