You know how to check for allergy symptoms and signs of a stomach bug, but would you recognize wisdom teeth symptoms?
As the last set of molars to grow into the mouth, wisdom teeth often cause pain and discomfort for teenagers and young adults. Make sure you recognize the hallmarks of troublesome wisdom teeth so that you can schedule wisdom teeth removal in Wheaton with DPD Smiles as quickly as possible.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are unique from the other teeth in your mouth. Instead of erupting when you’re young, wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 21. They become the third and final set of molars in the back of the mouth.
Wisdom teeth once served an essential purpose by helping early humans grind roots, leaves, nuts, and tough meat. However, modern humans enjoy a softer diet and no longer rely upon their wisdom teeth to chew. The human jaw has also become smaller over time, so many people don’t have room in their mouths to accommodate four new wisdom teeth.
As a result, wisdom teeth are now viewed as a complication, not a benefit. Dentists, pediatric dentists and oral surgeons recommend that teenagers and young adults have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent some of the painful wisdom teeth symptoms and oral health complications.
If you begin to notice any of the following wisdom teeth symptoms in your mouth or hear your child mention them, call DPD Smiles to address the problems before they get worse.
Pain and Difficulty Opening Mouth
If your wisdom teeth grow through your gums improperly, they may create intense pain and discomfort. Some wisdom teeth angle to the front or back of the mouth, or grow sideways into the roots of nearby molars. As a result, you may experience chronic pain and difficulty opening your mouth as your wisdom teeth try to erupt.
Bad Breath and Taste
Even if your wisdom teeth don’t hurt, they can damage other teeth and trigger infection within the gum tissue. This causes bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. If you can’t seem to get rid of that bad breath and taste in your mouth, it could be due to wisdom teeth. Our pediatric dentist or oral surgeon can tell you for sure.
Ear Ache
The mouth, jaw, ears, and sinuses are intricately linked. If you suddenly start experiencing ear aches, your wisdom teeth could be to blame. The nerves of the teeth and ears sit so close to each other that one easily influences the other.
Swollen Gums and Glands
You may also experience inflammation as your wisdom teeth grow in. This inflammation shows itself in swollen gums and neck glands. You may have trouble swallowing, or you may notice that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth.
Ulcers
Wisdom teeth can also be responsible for ulcers on the cheek. When the wisdom teeth are crowded into the mouth and can’t fit properly, they often lean sideways and rub against the cheek. All of that rubbing, day after day, leads to the development of raw, open ulcers.
What If I Don’t Have Any Wisdom Teeth Symptoms?
It’s important to note that while these are common symptoms associated with wisdom teeth eruption, not everyone will experience symptoms. Even if no symptoms are detected, removing wisdom teeth is most often the recommended course of action as they are more prone to infection, disease, crowding of adjacent teeth and complications down the road. Additionally, younger patients such as teens and young adults, tend to have less complications and quicker recovery than adults.
Schedule Wisdom Teeth Removal in Wheaton
There is only one permanent solution to wisdom teeth symptoms: wisdom teeth extraction in Wheaton, IL. At DPD Smiles Pediatrics Orthodontics and Oral Surgery, our oral surgeon, Dr. Brady, performs wisdom teeth removal with expertise. After the procedure, wisdom teeth symptoms will disappear so that you can enjoy a comfortable smile, safe from the dangers of wisdom teeth damage.
