It seems like the reputation of wisdom teeth precedes them. People are often afraid of having their wisdom teeth taken out, but most dental patients don’t think about the repercussions that can occur if you choose to leave your wisdom teeth in place longer than they should be. While they may seem harmless on the surface, there’s a reason dental professionals suggest patients have their wisdom teeth taken out each and every day—when they’re left to their own devices inside your gums, they can do damage and inflict pain.
What is an Erupting Wisdom Tooth?
Like all other teeth, wisdom teeth hide below the surface of the gumline until they’re ready to show themselves. The difference is that most adult teeth grow in when we’re adolescents. Wisdom teeth, however, hang onto their concealed positions in the mouth until people are between the ages of 17 and 25 on average (although, they can appear much later in life, too).
Wisdom teeth’s appearance is known as an eruption; that is, they erupt from the gums and can be seen when people are usually in their late teens or early- to mid-20s.
Problems with Erupting Wisdom Teeth
Even the healthiest mouths can experience issues when wisdom teeth begin to erupt. That’s because they tend to create a flap of gum tissue, which can trap food debris and invite bacteria to cling to the insides of the mouth.
Even after the flap of gum tissue is gone and your wisdom teeth have started to fully erupt into your mouth, you can experience other issues, such as:
- Swelling. Swelling can occur when your gums become inflamed by the introduction of the new teeth.
- Tender or bleeding gums. These are common symptoms associated with the eruption of widsom teeth.
- Jaw pain. It can become difficult and painful to eat when your wisdom teeth are coming in.
- Impaction. Wisdom teeth can become impacted when they don’t have enough space to erupt and develop as expected. An impacted wisdom tooth may come through the gums partly, or it may never break through the gums at all.
- Damage to other teeth. As wisdom teeth try to grow in, they’ll push against the second molar, which can cause teeth to become crooked or introduce the possibilities of infection.
If you’re in search of a Montreal dentist who can help calm your fears and get your oral health moving in the right direction, reach out to our team at Retter Dental Care. You can schedule your initial appointment online today!
