Signs You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

At Iqaluit Dental Clinic, we know that wisdom teeth pain is very common as you grow up. Around 5 million people get their wisdom teeth removed each year. Pain is just a sign that lets you know it may be time to get yours removed. Let’s check out signs you need your wisdom teeth removed.

The Signs

1. Excess pain – You know you need a dental procedure when you experience immense pain in some part of your mouth. The pain is much worse than getting punched in the face. If the pain doesn’t go away even after a few days or comes back within a few days even after you’ve tried brushing, flossing and taking painkillers, it’s a good sign that something is wrong and requires the immediate attention of your dentist. There are many reasons you may experience such immense pain. So, get yourself checked at the dentist to confirm that it’s due to the wisdom tooth.

When the pain is caused by your wisdom teeth, it comes from the back of your mouth, behind the molars. It may feel like something is pushing against your gum or jaw. However, wisdom teeth shouldn’t be ruled out as the cause if the pain isn’t coming from the back. Sometimes, pain from wisdom teeth can move to other parts of the mouth. That’s why dentists do check-ups and scan your jaw with X-rays to figure out the problem. 

2. Crowded teeth – Wisdom teeth are larger than normal teeth. They are even larger than your molars. That’s why your mouth simply doesn’t have enough space to keep them. When the teeth are left to grow in your gums for too long, they push adjacent teeth and cause teeth crowding.

Teeth crowding is a very obvious sign of the need for wisdom teeth removal, especially if you can’t get your teeth straightened out even with orthodontics. Wisdom teeth take so much space and exert so much pressure, that even orthodontics can’t push them to the right position. When you remove your wisdom teeth, there’s enough space for your teeth to be nudged and aligned back into position.

3. Swollen gums – Swollen gum is another problem caused by wisdom teeth. Similar to toddlers or infants who grow out of their baby teeth, when your wisdom teeth try to come out, they irritate your gum and make them feel hot and tight. That’s when the inflammation of your gums is triggered as a safety precaution.

Unlike baby teeth, wisdom teeth rarely grow in the right direction and that’s why they can’t break through the gums the right way. That means you have to endure a lot of pain and discomfort. Since the wisdom teeth can’t break out, the pain doesn’t go away either and oral surgery is the only option to remove the wisdom tooth and relieve excess pressure on your gums.  

4. Jaw problems – Your jaw should be able to open and close properly. Otherwise, your overall health and well-being are compromised. Proper digestion becomes almost impossible when you can’t use your jaws to properly chew and process your food. When the movement of your jaw is disrupted, you have to make drastic lifestyle changes. In the worst cases, wisdom teeth can hinder your jaw’s ability to shut properly.

Even if you’re able to close your jaw, it wouldn’t be comfortable. Jaw movement is also restricted when you have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). That’s why you need to talk to your dentist and figure out the root of the problem and get your wisdom teeth removed if necessary.

5. More pressure on the sinus – Sinuses and the roots of your teeth are located next to each other. Despite that, most people fail to make that connection. When your wisdom teeth grow more than they should, excess pressure is applied to your sinuses and that makes you feel uncomfortable and heavy.

If you’ve been having a heavy head and feeling unwell and got all kinds of treatments to fix it, it’s  a sign that your wisdom teeth are at the root of the problem. Especially so when headaches seem to radiate from the jaw. Fortunately, this is a rare side effect of overgrown wisdom teeth. However, you need to be quick when it happens and get your wisdom teeth removed so that you can get back to regular activities as soon as possible.

6. Cavities – When your wisdom teeth emerge out of your gums partially at odd angles, it can cause teeth crowding and interfere with the alignment of the rest of your teeth. When that happens, you’ll have trouble properly reaching all the surfaces of your teeth with a brush. Flossing is going to be even more difficult. This increases your risk of cavities.

When you are getting cavities continuously, it’s best to talk to your dentist and remove the wisdom teeth if that’s the source of all your problems. Removing your wisdom teeth and getting the rest of your teeth aligned, helps you to maintain good oral hygiene and keep cavities away.  

7. Sign of future problems – Dental surgery for removing wisdom teeth is inexpensive, easy and doesn’t have any side effects. That’s why it’s best to get your wisdom teeth removed even if they aren’t causing any problems at the moment. People often get their wisdom teeth removed when they pick up early signs of future problems.

For instance, pregnant women often get their wisdom teeth removed long before the first trimester. It’s a safety precaution to avoid future problems since they wouldn’t be able to go through the procedure when they have advanced far enough into their pregnancy. People who are going out of the country also get their wisdom teeth removed to avoid expensive dental surgery in some foreign countries.

Conclusion

At Iqaluit Dental Clinic, we recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed if you’re having problems with them. Wisdom teeth removal isn’t very expensive, and the procedure is usually covered by your dental insurance plan. If you leave it in, the teeth may cause more damage and worse conditions later on.