Wisdom teeth are the last few molars that form in the back of your mouth. They tend to grow around age twelve and typically emerge during late adolescence or early adulthood. These teeth are known for their size. They also take a while to develop, so it is not unusual for them to grow in but not begin erupting until sometime later as they get stuck behind other teeth.
Wisdom teeth can sometimes grow in sideways or out at an angle. This happens in some cases of cleft palate, but is not common.
“Impacted teeth” are the last teeth that come in, a wisdom tooth or two, that do not push through the gum line. They typically cause pain, infection, and other types of mouth problems such as periodontitis.
While growing, wisdom teeth often cause problems for their owner. This is why people will occasionally have impacted wisdom teeth.
Impacted wisdom teeth are one of the most common dental problems that plague both adults and children. These teeth do not have space to come in, so they either stay trapped within the gums or become impacted. If you are experiencing problems with your wisdom teeth, it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist. This is not a very big problem, but if left untreated, it can cause a lot of problems.
Diagnosis of impacted wisdom teeth:
The dentist will ask you questions about your symptoms and give you an exam. The dentist will perform an x-ray and other procedures to determine the extent of the problem.
Where people have impacted wisdom teeth, the roots may not erupt out of the gums or may be trapped below a large tooth. This can also be seen in a jaw that is too small for all its teeth to fit properly. In some areas of the mouth, room for the wisdom teeth is simply unavailable.
Impacted wisdom teeth often cause pain when they do not come in correctly. There are many symptoms that could be symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth. Some of the most common symptoms are pain while chewing, swelling in the area of the wisdom teeth, and a bad taste in the mouth. There might also be pain on one side of your face or jaw.
Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes cause problems with other teeth in the mouth. For example, if your wisdom tooth is impacted by another tooth, it can pinch and damage that other tooth. The problem may show up as a cavity that is deeper than normal or a black spot on your tooth. Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes get infected. An infection may cause red, swollen gums and a fever, among other symptoms. This happens if you do not treat the problem. The infection can affect your gums and jawbone.
Impacted wisdom teeth that are not treated when they first appear can cause serious problems later on. Such problems include decay on the impacted tooth as well as decay on other teeth in your mouth. If you have an impacted wisdom tooth, it is important to make sure it is treated before this happens.
Treatment of impacted wisdom teeth:
Some people may be able to treat their wisdom teeth at home. This includes things such as avoiding sugar and acidic foods like citrus. If you cannot avoid those things, take a prophylactic antiseptic when handling these items to prevent the spread of an infection.
Since it is hard to know whether your wisdom teeth are impacted, you will have to wait for them to come out naturally; that’s why it’s important to see your dentist if you feel something strange going on in your mouth and want them checked out before they become too much of a problem.
How to avoid getting impacted wisdom teeth in the future?
Each person is different, but there are a few things that you can do to make it more likely that your wisdom teeth will not grow in crooked or get stuck in-between your other teeth. You might not be able to avoid all these problems, but they will help you:
- Brush and floss daily;
- Eat healthy and drink plenty of water so that your teeth are not exposed to plaque;
- Take an over-the-counter antibiotic such as “amoxicillin;”
- Avoid using chewing gum, which causes saliva build-up;
- Do not eat too much sugar;
- Do not let your teeth get dry;
- If possible, avoid getting braces or other types of dental work that use metal. These things can damage your teeth and cause them to become crooked, preventing them from growing in correctly.