Wisdom Teeth – Not So Wise After All!
Wisdom teeth are the final adult teeth that will surface in your mouth. The majority of people have two pairs of wisdom teeth — two at the bottom and two at the top. If they can’t develop or emerge normally due to a lack of room in your mouth, they can get impacted and remain below the surface.
Impacted wisdom teeth may develop into a serious issue if they’re left untreated — resulting in damage to adjacent teeth, prolonged pain, and similar dental problems. And while impacted wisdom teeth may not result in immediate or apparent issues right away — the fact that they’re difficult to properly clean means they’re more susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay.
If wisdom teeth cause dental complications or pain, the generally recommended course of action is to remove them. And in some cases, oral surgeons and dentists recommend doing so even if they’re not currently causing issues, to prevent problems in the future.
Once wisdom teeth are infected, or cause other dental issues, you are likely to experience one or several of these symptoms:
-
- Unpleasant taste
- Bad breath
- Jaw swelling and pain
- Bleeding or tender gums
- Swollen or red gums
If you notice any of these symptoms around the area near wisdom teeth, visiting a dentist is the right course of action. Even if there are no immediate symptoms, performing regular dental checkups with your dentist in Etobicoke is the best way to monitor the emergence and growth of wisdom teeth.
Generally, dental X-rays can indicate the appearance of impacted wisdom teeth even before the development of more serious symptoms — enabling swift prevention. JM Dental is always welcoming new patients, so contact us if you have any qualms or questions regarding your wisdom teeth right away!