07 May What are wisdom teeth?
The wisdom teeth are the third molars that are in the back of the mouth. These are the last adult teeth that appear in the mouth, and there are four wisdom teeth, two in the upper part and two in the lower part.
Symptoms that can cause wisdom teeth
They do not always cause symptoms. Although, when a retained wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms: tender or bleeding gums, jaw pain, swelling around the jaw, difficulty opening the mouth , bad breath, an unpleasant taste in the mouth or red or swollen gums.
Causes
The wisdom teeth are retained when they do not have enough space to leave or erupt normally. These usually leave between 17 and 25 years, and sometimes leave without any problem and align with the other teeth, behind the second molars. Although in many other cases, the jaw or maxilla does not have enough space for the third molars to erupt normally. In this way, the third molars are retained / included or impacted.
Problems that can cause wisdom teeth:
- Gum disease: The difficulty in cleaning the impacted wisdom teeth increases the risk of contracting pericoronaritis, which is a painful and inflammatory condition in the gums.
- Damage to other teeth: If the wisdom tooth presses against the second molar, it can damage the second molar or increase the risk of infection in that area.
- Cavities. Partially retained wisdom teeth appear to be at a higher risk of tooth decay than other teeth. This may happen because wisdom teeth are harder to clean and because food and bacteria are easily trapped between the gum and the tooth that came out partially. It can also cause cavities in adjacent teeth due to difficulty in the hygiene of these.
- You are crying Wisdom teeth are formed in a follicle inside the jaw. The follicle or sac can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jaw, teeth and nerves. Rarely, a tumor develops, usually not cancerous. This complication may require the removal of tissue and bone.