Signs your wisdom teeth are emerging
Your wisdom teeth are also known as your third set of molars. They usually appear when you reach the age of 17 or up to the age of 25. At this age you are older and (usually) wiser than when the other adult teeth emerged, hence the name. Around the age of six years old, your first molars appear, and when around twelve the second set usually appears.
Molars are the flat teeth found at the back of the mouth that you use to chew your food before swallowing. The front teeth have the function of biting and tearing your food. Our dental function is not dependent on our wisdom teeth emerging. In fact, in certain cases, they never appear.
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN YOUR WISDOM TEETH ARE EMERGING?
You can look for certain signs your wisdom teeth are coming in by taking a flashlight and either looking through a mirror or asking someone to look for you. You may see your wisdom teeth emerging.
It is not very often that the wisdom teeth will emerge without any difficulties. Usually, people suffer from many painful symptoms as they appear with as many as 85% suffering from such severe problems that they need an oral surgeon to remove them.
Your regular surgeon should be able to detect when they are emerging during your regular checkups. You may even request an X-ray to predict problems before they appear.
You may be able to detect that your teeth are going to erupt too. The signs that you would notice include:
- Pressure or a throbbing sensation at the back of your jaw
- Swollen gums
- Visible cuts or breaks in your gums
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Jaw pain
If your emerging teeth are causing pain then you should book an appointment with the oral surgeons. There are some things you can do to relieve the pain until your appointment. One short term solution is to use over-the-counter pain relievers to help you with any dull and throbbing persistent pain.
You may also want to try a saltwater solution in the case that the pain is due to infection. This will kill any bacteria and remove any food particles away from the emerging teeth.
A further solution if your wisdom teeth are emerging is to use ice. This can have a twofold effect, reducing pain and swelling.
Some of these symptoms, though, can be the source of other dental conditions. For example, jaw pain or pressure, headaches, and earaches could also be felt if you have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Or if you have a cavity, you feel pain or sensitivity when you bite down.
Talk to your regular surgeon if you are concerned about your wisdom teeth. In some cases, it’s important to remove the wisdom teeth in order to protect the rest of your teeth. If that is your case, then your surgeon can refer you to an oral surgeon at Bay Area OSM who will remove the tooth for you.
WHY WOULD I NEED TO HAVE MY WISDOM TEETH REMOVED?
It is most likely that wisdom teeth need to be removed because there is no room for them on your jaw. You will feel uncomfortable pain as the wisdom teeth push the other teeth closer together. It can also cause overlapping or overcrowding. This can create other issues such as difficulties flossing which can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay or loss.
Another reason why wisdom teeth are commonly removed is impaction. This means that your wisdom teeth are stuck in your jaw and can’t grow out of your gum line. This can increase the chances of an infection or abscesses.
If you would like help from an expert surgeon to remove your wisdom teeth then schedule an appointment at Bay Area OSM. You can rely on their many years of training and experience to remove your tooth in a safe way.
