Wisdom teeth are the third molar, located right at the back of your mouth. They actually begin to grow when you're ten. They can begin to erupt from the age of 17, although some people may find that they push through when they are much older. Some may never experience their wisdom teeth, while others will have all four growing, one in each corner of their jaw.
The history of the wisdom tooth
It is believed ancient humans developed wisdom teeth in order to help chew their rough diet of roots, leaves and tough meat, and they wouldn't have had such a problem with their wisdom teeth. However, over time the human mouth has shrunk and will now comfortably fit approximately 28 teeth—when our ancient ancestors had room for 32 teeth. This means that when wisdom teeth do come through, they can cause problems.
What problems do wisdom teeth cause?
Your dentist may have spotted a potential problem with your future wisdom teeth when you were young and already corrected it by extracting existing teeth to create room in your mouth.
However, if all of your teeth are present and healthy, you may find your suffer problems when your wisdom teeth make an appearance. These problems may include:
- Impaction. If the tooth grows at an angle, too close to existing teeth or simply doesn't fit in the mouth, it can become impacted which can lead to further problems.
- Infection. Infection of the gum and tooth can occur when there are problems keeping the teeth clean due to impaction or while the wisdom tooth is growing. The gum may become swollen, there may be pus and you will find it more difficult to swallow.
- Cheek ulcers. If the wisdom tooth grows outwards it can rub against the flesh of your cheek and cause ulcers, which can be painful and can become infected.
- Trouble eating. If your wisdom teeth grow awkwardly they may affect the alignment of your existing teeth and therefore your bite. You may find biting and chewing food becomes difficult.
Should you have them removed?
While most people think that all wisdom teeth will need removing, only 30% of cases require tooth extraction. Removing the wisdom teeth will remove all possibilities of infection and pain, and if they are growing at an odd angle they will be useless.
The best way to treat wisdom tooth problems is prevention. Dental clinics such as Jeffcott Dental Clinic can x-ray your mouth before the wisdom teeth erupt to spot any potential impaction problems, and then help to correct them.
If your wisdom teeth have already come through then proper cleaning, including flossing and using a special wisdom tooth toothbrush, can help to keep your wisdom teeth problem free. Antibiotics can clear any infections as they happen. If you suffer reoccurring infections or pain, your dentist may recommend extraction of one or more of your wisdom teeth.
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