If you haven’t heard much talk about your wisdom teeth, you may start hearing more about them in your 20s. You could hear about them even younger. But most people start to feel the effects of their wisdom teeth emerging in their early 20s. Here are some things you may want to know so you can speak to your dentist about the best thing you can do for your teeth:
You may never have to do a thing
When it comes to your wisdom teeth, you may be one of the lucky ones that never has to have them removed. Maybe they fit perfectly fine in your mouth, and they never cause you pain. While there are many young people who will end up needing to go through surgery to have them removed, the reality is that some people don’t.
However, before you rule out needing to remove them, make sure to make an appointment at your local dental lab or clinic to find out the best things you can do for you and your health.
You may have multiple dental visits
Your dentist may not immediately require wisdom tooth extraction. They may want to see if they break through your gums naturally without any issues. While x-rays will show when wisdom teeth are impacted and unable to emerge through the gums, sometimes the dentist may find your teeth seem to be in position to come out on their own. Plan for multiple dental visits until your dentist can deem a surgery unnecessary.
You may need surgery
The truth is that you may end up needing surgery. A lot of young people do require some kind of wisdom tooth extraction. Sometimes it’s simple and at other times it may require more invasive surgery. While for the most part, those who need their wisdom teeth removed only experience minimal swelling, others who have all four removed at once, may have to deal with looking like a chipmunk for some days.
If your dentist tells you that surgical extraction is necessary, prepare foods ahead of time that are soft and easy to eat and be prepared for a bit of discomfort and swelling. Fortunately, it won’t take more than a few days for the swelling to go down and for your face and mouth to feel like they’re back to normal.
Minimal pain
If your teeth are in a position to come out naturally, you shouldn’t expect too much pain. While there will be some discomfort, it should be quite manageable and won’t do much more than cause you to feel pressure and slight pain. If you are feeling uncomfortable with the amount of discomfort you experience, talk to your dentist about things you can do to alleviate the pain.
When you should visit your dentist
For those who don’t visit their dentist often, the unexpected nature of pain and pressure in their mouth may cause concern. However, you may not be aware that it has to do with your wisdom teeth. While some pressure and pain is expected with wisdom teeth emerging, if they’re impacted, you may experience pain and swelling that would be hard to ignore.
If you have dental insurance, book a visit with your dentist as soon as possible. If they need to be removed, this is something that you’d want to do sooner than later. Wisdom teeth that aren’t taken care of can cause pain, infection, and extreme discomfort.
In Conclusion
Talk to your dentist about your wisdom teeth if you want to avoid pain and discomfort and take care of them as soon as possible. They can recommend the best course of action and help you feel better in no time.
