I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
Many people have never had their wisdom teeth extracted. The teeth, which don't usually break the surface of your gums until you are an older teen or a young adult, can cause multiple problems for the other teeth in your mouth. Here are a few ways that wisdom teeth may impact your dental health:
Wisdom teeth can spread decay.
Wisdom teeth can be difficult to clean properly. As the third molars, they rest at the very back of your mouth. Few toothbrushes can comfortably reach this area, especially if your oral cavity is relatively small. As a result, your wisdom teeth may develop cavities, even if your other teeth remain are initially free of decay.
Cavities, or holes in the teeth, form as bacterial acids eat away at the tooth enamel. Over time, as the enamel becomes dissolved, a cavity becomes evident. Once decay starts, it can quickly spread. Decay that begins in a wisdom tooth can spread to other nearby teeth.
Wisdom teeth can cause other teeth to shift.
Since your other teeth are already in place when wisdom teeth begin to erupt, there may be too little space in your mouth remaining for the molars to emerge properly. As a result, the teeth can place a great amount of pressure on your other teeth as they try to break through the gums. This pressure can force the other teeth out of alignment.
In some instances, wisdom teeth do not even grow vertically. Instead, the teeth make develop in a lateral configuration. Although the teeth are unlikely to erupt when they grow sideways, they still place pressure on the roots of nearby teeth. Not only is this painful, but it can also cause dental misalignment.
Wisdom teeth can cause problems with the bone that holds your other teeth in place.
Wisdom teeth are not only difficult to clean, but the gums around them are also difficult to reach, especially since the wisdom teeth can obstruct the passage of most cleaning tools. Once the gums become inflamed due to their continual contact with plaque and bacterial acid, their condition can progressively worsen.
Initially, the symptoms of gum disease may only include bleeding and a bit of swelling. However, as the condition progresses, the gums can recede from the teeth and even permit bacteria to spread below the gum line. As the jawbone is affected by gum disease, it can begin to shrink. This may cause teeth that were once secured within the bone to become looser within their sockets.
To have your wisdom teeth assessed, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your local area. He or she can assess the health of your wisdom teeth and perform extractions if needed.
Share8 May 2017
