As the human diet evolved from raw meat, uncooked vegetables, and tree roots to the more refined food we eat today, wisdom teeth became less functional. These days, the third set of molars only crowd up the mouth and cause oral problems. If you feel any of the following, it may be time to extract your wisdom teeth:
Constant toothache and headache
Wisdom teeth sprout between the ages of 17 and 25, and sometimes, they don’t find enough space to grow in the mouth. When this happens, the teeth may become impacted, causing toothaches and headaches. If you feel constant headaches that seem to start from around your jawbone along with toothaches from the same area, visit a dentist.
Your gums get red and swollen
When wisdom teeth erupt from the gum line, they often pull out some gum tissue, leaving it exposed. The tissue collects food particles and bacteria and before long, the surrounding gum becomes red, hard, and swollen. Since the third molars grow at the extreme end of the mouth, you may not be able to see the inflammation. However, if that area is painful and difficult to clean, your wisdom teeth need to come out.
Eating becomes difficult
If your teeth ache and your gums are inflamed, eating will definitely become difficult. Do not ignore the pain. If you continue to eat, more food particles will get stuck in the tissue and the area will become more inflamed, causing more pain.
If you live in Northwest Houston, you can have your wisdom teeth extracted at Village Park Family Dentistry, a state-of-the-art dental facility in Cypress, Texas. Call 281-376-4444 to make an appointment.