Wisdom teeth are weird. They basically grow to inconvenience your life and cost you money. All we can hope is that they leave some vital wisdom behind forever. Wisdom teeth extractions are very common. Around five million people get their wisdom teeth removed each year, and each person has a different experience. Some wisdom teeth placement is straightforward, and pulling them isn’t much different than pulling any other tooth.
Then there are those pesky impacted wisdom teeth that take some work to get out. The process takes longer, and the patient usually gets put to sleep for it. Recovery differs as well. Although we don’t recommend it, we know people who have gone skiing the day after getting their wisdom teeth pulled and reported no pain.
We also know people who were bedridden for a week after getting their wisdom teeth removed. The pain, discomfort, and healing process of recovery differs for everyone. However, a typical patient will have pain and discomfort for a few days and be good to go. Intense pain or pain that lasts longer than a week usually means something is wrong such as an infection or dry socket. It’s best to follow up with your Utah family dentist after surgery to ensure a healthy recovery.
Getting your wisdom teeth pulled may sound scary and cause some anxiety, but the process isn’t too bad. Here are seven signs that your wisdom teeth should come out:
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1. Pain
The most significant sign of any dental issue is pain in the mouth. If you’re experiencing pain that doesn’t subside with brushing, flossing, or even taking a painkiller, something is wrong, and you shouldn’t ignore it.
Although several dental issues can cause pain, if you still have your wisdom teeth, the pain could be related to them. Try to focus and locate where the pain is coming from. Wisdom teeth pain would generally come from the back of your mouth around the top edge of your jaw.
However, the pain might be so bad that you feel it in your whole mouth. In cases of extreme pain in the teeth or mouth, see your dentist immediately. Most dental professionals will allow for same-day visits in emergency cases. If your dentist won’t see you on the fly when you need it, many other Utah dentists will.
2. Swollen Gums
Swollen gums are never happy gums. Much like a teething baby, when the wisdom teeth come in, they may irritate your gums and make them feel tight or hot. Pesky wisdom teeth often don’t come in the way regular teeth do. They grow in all kinds of wonky directions instead of straight up, so they don’t break through the gums correctly. In cases of impacted wisdom teeth, you’ll likely need oral surgery to get them out.
3. Crowding
You want to get your wisdom teeth out if they start to create crowding in your mouth. Crowding can lead to crooked and overlapping teeth. Wisdom teeth are much larger than regular teeth, and our mouths don’t have room for them. If you just let your wisdom teeth grow, they can move your existing teeth and cause many issues.
4. Issues with Your Jaw
Most of us easily open and close our jaws and take it for granted. However, sometimes dental issues can disrupt our jaw’s ability to function properly. That leads to improper digestion due to the inability to chew and process your food well. Wisdom teeth can cause all kinds of issues to your jaw.
5. Cavities
I want more cavities, said no one ever! One of the main goals of dental hygiene is to prevent cavities. Don’t let your wisdom teeth be the reason you’re more prone to cavities. When wisdom teeth cause crowding, brushing certain areas of your teeth may become more challenging. This means your teeth are more susceptible to build-up and cavities.
If you are continually getting cavities, ask your dentist about the root cause of those cavities. Is it time to get those wisdom teeth out? Removing wisdom teeth can help reduce the crowding and limit the areas where bacteria live to hang out and thrive.
6. Sinus Pressure
Have you ever thought about the connection between our sinuses and the roots of our teeth? Our ears, nose, and throats are all connected, so an issue with one can often affect the others. Overgrown wisdom teeth may pressure our sinuses, causing headaches and discomfort.
7. Your Dentist Recommends It
If your dentist says they must come out, don’t ignore it. It’s better to remove them BEFORE they cause an array of problems. You should keep this in mind if you’re going to be in a future position that will make it hard to undergo the procedure, such as pregnancy or travel. Get it out of the way and avoid pain, swollen gums, teeth crowding, jaw issues, cavities, and sinus pressure.
Don’t let the name fool you; wisdom teeth don’t make you wiser. Getting them out as soon as possible is the wisest choice. Some people are in the minority of lucky ducks and never get wisdom teeth. Some rare unfortunate souls go almost their whole lives thinking they don’t have wisdom teeth, only to have them grow when they’re in their seventies. Ensure your doctor does x-rays to check for wisdom teeth and get them out immediately.
If you need a family dentist in Utah, we’d love to get you on our books. Schedule an appointment today at either our West Haven or Layton office.