Signs of wisdom teeth coming in

What are wisdom teeth and why do people have wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth, or third molars are the last teeth to develop in the mouth and often make an appearance between the ages of 17 and 21.

The average person has four wisdom teeth, however, it is not uncommon for people to have fewer or more than four wisdom teeth. In fact, some people don’t have any wisdom teeth at all!

For some people, wisdom teeth cause no problems and need no treatment. But for others, wisdom teeth can become impacted, meaning they get stuck in the jawbone or gums and can’t come through the gum tissue. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, and other problems.

When do wisdom teeth come in?

Wisdom teeth begin to erupt during our teenage years. Even if you don’t see your third molars by a certain age, they can always come in later than expected, even in your late 20’s.  While most men and women do not experience problems when their wisdom teeth grow in, they can cause a wide range of problems with your oral health.

It’s common not to experience all that much when your wisdom teeth are coming out, some may only have slight discomfort when chewing or in the back of the jaw. If you suspect you’re getting wisdom teeth and that’s the cause of the pain in your mouth, it’s important to visit us straight away.

First signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in:

• Irritation in the Gums (swelling, bleeding or tender gums)
  Irritation of the gum around the impacted or partially erupted wisdom tooth is known as pericoronitis and is the most common reason that wisdom teeth are removed.
  This type of infection can range from mild to severe and cause constant pain and swelling. It’s important to see your dentist at the earliest possible opportunity to prevent this type of infection spreading or worsening.
• Jaw pain
  When you have impacted wisdom teeth, this may often cause pain in your jaw or the sides of your face. The pain can grow gradually to the point of having difficulty to even open your mouth. Certain foods that require more chewing like meats and raw vegetables can make the pain worse when chewing.

• Pain in other areas: headache, pain around eyes and ears
  When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to grow in, they can start growing in wrong, in weird directions, which can lead to discomfort and pain. You can ease sinus issues like sinus pressure, ear aches, and headaches through a wisdom tooth removal process.

• Redness of the gums
  Swelling and redness of the gums indicates that there is inflammation and fluid retention around a tooth. Most swellings occur on the outer part of the gum tissue above or below a tooth.  It often looks a like a bubble and sometime pus can ooze out of this swelling.  This type of swelling is usually associated with an infection and bacterial build up.
• Small White Specks
  The last sign that your wisdom teeth are coming in is seeing small white specks in your gums behind your molars. These are actually the tops of your new teeth! Once your wisdom teeth have reached this stage, you should talk to your dentist if you haven’t already.
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth or a bad breath
  A common symptom of impacted wisdom teeth is bad breath. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infection because of buildup of food and bacteria around the edge of the wisdom teeth, since they are harder to reach when you brush your teeth this causes a build-up of plaque, and consequentially bad breath.
• Difficulty opening your mouth
  When you have impacted wisdom teeth this may cause inflammation of the gums alongside the affected tooth. Because of the infection, some patients also end up with swollen or painful lymph glands under the jaw. This pain can make it difficult to open your mouth or swallow.

Why does it cause pain when wisdom teeth come in?

Wisdom tooth pain can occur due to a number of reasons; not enough space for them to grow or sometimes they grow at a different angle than the rest of the teeth and gums, so they become impacted.

Impacted wisdom teeth, can damage the roots and nerves of neighboring teeth. Since they are also difficult to clean around, this can lead to infection or the formation of cysts and tumors.

A tooth infection can lead to tooth decay or even periodontal disease. This can spread to other teeth and surrounding tissue, causing tooth loss and poorly affecting your overall health. Some patients prefer tooth extraction to prevent future issues.

What can you do against the pain?

It is common for a wisdom tooth to cause some discomfort. Aside from visiting your dentist, there are ways that someone can manage their pain right at home.

While the pain may not completely go away, it is helpful to know of ways that the pain can be managed:

• Numbing gels with benzocaine.
• Over the counter medications that reduce inflammation and pain.
• Ice packs or compresses: not only will this relieve some of the pain, but it will also help the inflammation go down.
• Saltwater rinses for 30 seconds helps reduce inflammation in the gums, and prevent and fight infection.

When should wisdom teeth be removed

Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. Having regular evaluations at Digital Dental Studio will determine if your wisdom teeth could become symptomatic.

Wisdom teeth are difficult to keep clean. It is no easy to reach them with a toothbrush or with dental floss. That’s the reason why bacteria tend to multiply around them. That bacteria can cause dental diseases like infections, cavities, and periodontal diseases. So as a preventive measure some patients opt to have the wisdom teeth removed to avoid complications with them.

Moreover, wisdom teeth have to be removed once patients face a common problem; that the wisdom teeth can become impacted. Visit our website for more information: Top 5 Signs That Your Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed

What can Dr Anna Vishart do for you?

If you believe you need wisdom tooth removal, give us a call or schedule an appointment. Dr. Vishart and her team would be happy to help determine the best course of action for your needs and is here to provide you with the information needed to make the best decision for you.