We have all heard the adage “with age comes wisdom.” There is truth to this, even with your dental health. Well after all of your permanent teeth have grown in, many people notice the appearance of their third molars, more commonly known as your wisdom teeth. This typically occurs between the ages of 17 and 21, which is also when most opt to have these teeth removed.

When wisdom teeth grow correctly, they can help with the chewing process for certain foods. On the other hand, if they emerge incorrectly, these teeth can cause pain and damage your other teeth. If you are beginning to be affected by the eruption of your wisdom teeth, here are five reasons to have them removed.

1. More often than not, wisdom teeth do not grow properly. Their positioning can often cause food to become trapped between your third molar and another molar, which can ultimately become a breeding ground for bacteria that will lead to tooth decay. A filling on top of wisdom teeth extraction? No, thank you.
2. You’re probably thinking, “Trapped food? No problem! I’ll just get back there with some floss and get that out.” Not so fast. If your wisdom teeth grow in at the improper angle, flossing is difficult, if not impossible. As we have previously mentioned, flossing is a significant factor in dental health. If you can’t floss between these teeth, that can cause more dental problems in the future.
3. When your wisdom teeth begin to erupt through your gums, it is not only painful, but it can create an entryway for bacteria. This can lead to pain and swelling in your teeth and gums, as well as general jaw discomfort.
4. When wisdom teeth grow in, they can impact the neighboring teeth and cause crowding or damage to the rest of your teeth. Think of all of the time and money spent on braces to create your beautiful, straight smile — don’t let that go to waste over a few wisdom teeth.
5. An impacted wisdom tooth can lead to a cyst on or around the tooth it is affecting. These cysts can damage the roots of the surrounding teeth and even cause damage to the bone supporting your teeth. The only way to ensure that this doesn’t occur is to do away with those pesky wisdom teeth altogether!

Around 98 percent of people are born with at least one wisdom tooth, and these teeth are the most frequently removed teeth. At the Dental Care Center, we take the appropriate measures during dental extraction to ensure that you experience a comfortable procedure and recovery process. Schedule an appointment today to determine the best course of action for your wisdom teeth.