Some people never have problems with their wisdom teeth. However, many folks do not have enough space for the eruption of their back teeth and end up in excruciating pain. Worse still, the back teeth can be daunting to keep clean with regular tooth brushing, resulting in serious dental complications. So what consequences are you likely to endure if you ignore complications with your wisdom teeth? Here is a look at signs that your wisdom teeth are problematic and could need extraction.
Impacted wisdom teeth
The most common problem with wisdom teeth is failure to erupt into their correct spaces. For many folks, there may not be enough space on the jawbone for the eruption of the back teeth, resulting in the teeth coming in at odd angles and pushing against your other teeth. This often results in excruciating pain, crooked teeth, and bite misalignment issues.
If not removed, the impacted teeth could get infected, leading to a severe inflammation in the jawbone that could bring about painful and hazardous cysts and sores. The emerging teeth could also damage any existing orthodontic work and put pressure on your jaw and facial muscles, resulting in headaches and sinus health issues.
To prevent an impacted wisdom tooth from ruining your smile, you should consult a dentist regularly for inspection. Dentists can take X-rays to monitor the development and eruption of wisdom teeth so that any potential complications are identified early on. Extraction is often required if the wisdom teeth are likely to be impacted so as to preserve your smile and oral health.
Gingivitis and tooth decay
Due to their location in the mouth, wisdom teeth are often hard to clean properly. With time, the teeth can accumulate plaque and harbor bad bacteria that can cause gum disease and cavities. The infection can continue to fester, especially if you forgo regular dental checkups, finally resulting in excruciating pain, swollen gums and decay to your adjacent teeth.
Ignoring any pain or infection caused by your wisdom teeth can put your whole mouth at risk. It is important that you seek early treatment so decayed wisdom teeth can be removed before they adversely affect your smile.
Typically, your wisdom teeth will grow increasingly solid in your mouth with age, making extraction more difficult and painful. It therefore helps to have them removed early on before they take hold if there is a risk of gingivitis or tooth decay.
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