How to know when wisdom teeth need to be removed

Every year around five million people have to have their wisdom teeth removed for a variety of reasons. Even though it’s a common procedure, there is a lot of confusion surrounding when the teeth need to come out and when they can stay in. 

This can sometimes lead to problems where the teeth stay in longer than they should, causing excess pain or other dental health issues that then have to be resolved. It’s important to get your wisdom teeth out as soon as issues arise to avoid that situation. The best way to know is to stay in good contact with your dentist with regular check-ups. 

You can also stay on the lookout for these seven signs that you need your wisdom teeth removed! 

1. Extreme Pain 

A tell-tale sign that you need a dental procedure is when you are experiencing pain in your mouth. This is especially true when the pain doesn’t go away or subside even after you’ve brushed and flossed your teeth or taken painkillers. 

There are a lot of reasons you could be having this kind of problem so you may have to do some more investigating before finding the root cause of the pain. 

Generally, the pain should be coming from the back of your mouth where wisdom teeth are located. It can often feel like something is pushing on your jaw or gums. But sometimes the pain can move to other areas of your mouth as well. It’s best to come to your dentist for x-rays and a check-up when the pain persists. 

2. Swollen Gums

Another aspect of painful wisdom teeth is swollen gums. Much like a teething infant or toddler, when your wisdom teeth are trying to come in they can irritate your gums causing them to feel tight, hot, and irritated. 

The problem with wisdom teeth is that they often aren’t growing in the right direction and so they don’t break through the gums correctly. This means the pain and discomfort will just go on. That’s why it’s important to have oral surgery to get the teeth removed and relieve the pressure on the gums. 

3. Teeth Crowding 

One of the biggest issues with wisdom teeth is that they are larger than normal and most mouths simply don’t have the room to accommodate them. When the teeth are left to grow in too long they can move your existing teeth. 

Teeth crowding is an especially obvious sign of needing wisdom teeth removed in teens who can’t get a straighter smile even with orthodontics. This means the teeth are taking up too much space and putting too much pressure on the others to be moved. The good news is once the wisdom teeth are moved, everything else should even out and the other teeth should have space to be straight! 

4. Jaw Issues 

Being able to open and close your jaw properly is a crucial aspect of overall health and wellness. You can’t have proper digestion without being able to chew and process your food well, which can’t happen if the movement of your jaw is disrupted. 

In some of the worst cases, wisdom teeth can impair your ability to shut your jaw comfortably. 

These issues can sometimes be mistaken for TMJ issues but can be easily resolved by removing the teeth, which is often a much simpler fix in the long run. 

5. Continued Cavities

Wisdom teeth, especially the ones that have partially emerged and at weird angles or caused crowding, can make it so you can’t get a thorough brushing done on your teeth. This means your teeth are more susceptible to build-up and cavities. 

When you are continually getting cavities (and that’s not normal for you) it might be a good idea to talk to your dentist about the root cause of those cavities. Removing your wisdom teeth could potentially reduce the places for bacteria to hang out in your mouth and make it harder for cavities to form. 

6. Increased Sinus Pressure  

Even though they’re located right next to each other, we often don’t think of the connection between our sinuses and the roots of our teeth. But overgrown wisdom teeth can often put added pressure on our sinuses making our head feel heavy and uncomfortable. 

You’ll know the sinus pain is related to your wisdom teeth when it doesn’t respond to regular treatments and when it seems to radiate from your jaw. 

Luckily, this is a more uncommon side effect of wisdom teeth. When it does happen though, it should be taken care of as quickly as possible to get you back to doing your regular activities and avoid further issues from the pain. 

7. Signs of a Potential Problem 

For most patients, there are no side effects to having dental surgery to remove wisdom teeth. It’s a good idea to remove them even if you’re not currently experiencing any problems. This is especially true if you foresee being in a position where you won’t be able to have the procedure done in the future. 

Many women have their wisdom teeth out before they begin having children since they wouldn’t be able to have the surgery while pregnant. Others who will be out of the country for a period of time do it for similar reasons. 

In the long run, it’s a good idea to get ahead and take preventative measures than wait for a problem to come up. 

Signs You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Living with pain or discomfort from your teeth is often unbearable, it disrupts your daily life and makes it hard to enjoy almost anything. Getting your wisdom teeth removed can help to alleviate a lot of that pain if that’s the root of the problem. 

The key is to have the procedure done by highly-skilled, caring oral surgeons who have years of experience removing wisdom teeth just like yours. Our team can handle any case that comes our way confident that you’ll be happy with the results and be returning back to your regular activities in no time. 

If you’re in need of any oral surgery procedures, contact us today to schedule a consultation!