Wisdom Tooth Chronicles: Dealing with Your Third Molars

It’s easy to think that people with wisdom teeth are lucky and wise, given how we’ve all come to call this set of teeth. You could be wrong.

Not many people are lucky to have their wisdom teeth. This third set of molars are often a cause of pain for some people due to how they erupt – whether half impacted, crooked, or fully erupted. If your wisdom teeth are starting to show, here are a few things you need to know:

How Do You Know If You Need to Have It Extracted?

Some people are fortunate because they don’t need to have their third molars extracted. Nonetheless, if you start to notice the back of your mouth starting to swell and hurt, you may need to have your teeth checked by your dentist. Here are other signs that may require a wisdom tooth extraction:

• Pain
• Damage to neighboring teeth
• Headache and a ringing sound in your ear
• Infected and swelling gums

Why Do You Need to Have Your Wisdom Tooth Extracted?

A half-impacted wisdom tooth is often a cause of bacterial infection due to the food bits getting stuck in the gums. This attracts bacteria, which, in turn, cause gum problems. In some cases, you may need to remove your wisdom teeth to relieve space at the back of your mouth. If it’s not erupted properly, it may cause crowding and affect the adjacent teeth. An erupting wisdom tooth may bump to its adjacent teeth, causing damage to it.

What Do You Need to Do if You’re Going to Have a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Talk to your dentist. A wisdom tooth extraction is not like any other normal tooth extractions – you’ll need to be prepared to ensure a healthy recovery for your mouth. Your dentist may advise you to drink antibiotics to relieve the swelling and infection on your gums. You’ll also need plenty of rest so you feel relaxed during the procedure. More importantly, have someone accompany you to the dentist; the effects of the anesthetics may cause you to feel lightheaded following the procedure.

Follow the post-op care instructions that your dentist will provide. You should also avoid the following:

• Drinking alcohol and smoking for at least a week
• Eating hard food
• Sipping on a straw
• Doing strenuous activity for three days

As long as you follow your dentist’s advice and stick to a healthy oral care routine, you won’t have any problems recovering from your wisdom tooth extraction.