Good Oral Health Practices: 3 Reasons to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted

Wisdom teeth may have been a valuable biological asset in the past, but for modern humans they are mostly a burden. These late-blooming teeth can cause numerous dental health issues before they even emerge from the gum, especially in those with a naturally smaller mouth or jaw. Some people suffer constant and severe pain as their wisdom teeth begin to grow, while others don’t experience problems until years after their development.

Even if wisdom teeth don’t cause pain or health issues directly, they can make it a lot harder to maintain basic dental hygiene. People who are unable to completely brush or floss the teeth are at high risk of developing tooth and gum problems. In fact, the emergence of wisdom teeth is linked to various periodontal problems and higher rates of tooth decay, according to the Wisconsin Dental Association. Plaque buildup can cause cavities and gum health deterioration that impacts other teeth, so extraction may be advisable simply to avoid these complications.

For many people, extraction is more than a matter of prevention. Even before wisdom teeth erupt from the gum they can press on neighboring teeth, causing all of them to go out of alignment. This can lead to markedly crooked teeth that require braces or other types of dental intervention to correct. It’s easy to put off extraction due to fear of pain, but the pain of leaving them in can be far worse. People who are worried about discomfort should look for a dentist that offers pain-free extraction, like Family First Dentistry LLC.

Since the average human mouth is too small to comfortably accommodate wisdom teeth, their emergence can also increase the risk of infection. Poor hygiene and malformation of the teeth can expose the body to viruses and bacteria, which may spread beyond the mouth and into the bloodstream. Established infections can become a serious health concern, potentially exposing the brain and eyes to disease. Some people develop tumors or cysts as complications of wisdom tooth growth, which may also require extraction to eliminate discomfort.

It’s possible to go through life without having wisdom teeth extracted, but many people can improve their overall dental health through removal. Surgery to remove wisdom teeth is much easier and safer when it’s performed in the early stages of development, which usually happens in the late teens or early twenties. Parents and young adults facing the prospect of extraction should carefully weigh their options and talk to a professional dentist when making the decision.