2 BIG REASONS IT JUST MAKES SENSE
Have you ever wondered if removing wisdom teeth when there isn’t an infection or crowding is necessary? Have you ever wondered what we even need wisdom teeth for?
Wisdom teeth are like the “p” in psychology: There really is no use for it. At least not anymore. See, back when we used to be hunters and gatherers, the foods we ate were much harder for our jaws and teeth to break down. So our wisdom teeth came in handy. Now that our food is easier to eat, we just don’t need them anymore. To make matters worse, as we’ve evolved, many of our jaws have become too small to accommodate these unnecessary molars.
Here are a few reasons why you should get them removed before they cause problems:
No. 1: You risk getting cavities
The molars are located at the back of the jaw, where they are much harder to get to for proper brushing or flossing. In addition, if your jaw is too small to accommodate them and crowding occurs, it can be almost impossible to get them thoroughly cleaned. This increases the risk of getting cavities, tooth decay and even worse oral health conditions like gum disease.
No. 2: Wisdom teeth can be bad for your gums
Another reason a wisdom tooth removal should be on your to-do list is the way these teeth can make the gums become inflamed and uncomfortable when they become impacted or run out of room. This usually happens because of the odd ways these molars can grow into a jaw when the jaw is too small, leaving limited space for other teeth and placing undue stress on the gums.
About 10 million molars are removed each year in the United States alone. It’s no doubt a common dental procedure, and when handled by an experienced dentist, it’s a lot less stressful than trying to tackle any problems after they arise.
If you’re considering a wisdom tooth removal or have any questions, call us today at (469)264-8921.
