Do We Really Need to Remove Wisdom Teeth?
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The next time you go ‘ouch’ when that wisdom tooth hurts, and you decide to get it extracted, it might be well worth finding out whether you really need those gnashers.
Since humans came into existence, wisdom teeth have been considered very useful and helpful in chewing all kinds of food. These usually start erupting when you are about 12 and can erupt anytime till you’re 25. In fact, this is how they get their name. In many cultures, the ages between 17 and 25 are known as the ‘age of wisdom’ when you grow and gain experience. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Anyway, back to the million-dollar question of – do wisdom teeth really need to be removed? To answer that, we will be presenting to you both sides of the cases so that you can make a ‘wise’ decision for yourself.
The wisdom tooth stays! Arguments in favor of keeping your third molars
You don’t necessarily have to get your wisdom teeth extracted just because that is what you’ve heard everyone say since you were a tween. There are quite a few reasons to keep your wisdom teeth. These are-
- The first reason is a rather obvious one. If your wisdom teeth are healthy and are not causing you any trouble in eating or drinking, there’s no reason to bid them adieu yet. Signs of the problem include inflammation, tooth decay, and gum problems.
- If your third molars have also fully erupted without much pain or difficulty, there is no reason for you to get them removed.
- Your wisdom teeth can also stay if they are not causing any harm to their neighboring teeth. This means that they should be properly located in their space and not encroach those of adjoining ones and that they are not impairing the proper functioning of other teeth.
- If you can brush and floss your molars easily, you do not need to get them extracted. Check in your washroom mirror to see if the gunk left by your food is out of your molars after a brushing session. That should help you in knowing if your molars are easy to clean.
You should be comfortable in your teeth (pun intended) to be absolutely sure that they do not need removal.
Get that thing extracted! Arguments getting your wisdom teeth out of the way
The case of the wisdom teeth keeps getting more complex with new twists and turns! While so far there was no reason to get your precious molars at the back extracted, now there are quite a few that can make you rethink your decision of letting these nearly invisible teeth stay. These arguments are-
- The biggest problem with these gnashers is that they are hidden behind rows and rows of their pearly white cousins, which means that in certain circumstances, they may not erupt at all out of your gums. Unfortunately, this can lead to the formation of cysts, which can spell doom for the roots of the rest of your teeth.
- Impartial eruption is another problem with these problems that work against them. This can cause hygiene issues as not only will partially erupted teeth be difficult to clean, they will also accumulate large amounts of harmful bacteria, which can lead to cavities.
- Sometimes the space given out by your gums to your teeth gets exhausted. In such full vacancy, it’s impossible to stuff another tooth in, which means that basically there might be no space for your molars to grow. Your wisdom tooth, however, may very unwisely, try pushing its way out, damaging the rest of your teeth. In such a scenario, it pretty much has to go.
- Pain is another reason why you should bid adieu to your third molars. This pain is usually a sign that there may be more trouble later, so best to get that appointment with your dentist.
- As harmless as your wisdom teeth may seem when they first start erupting, they can often cause infections in the soft tissues adjoining them. Damage control is why you may need to get rid of them.
- Tumors in your wisdom tooth can be very painful and can prevent you from eating or drinking things you love. If you want to save yourself from that, extraction is the way.
- Often, your back bencher gnashers can cause gum inflammation as they erupt, making the case of their removal stronger than ever.
- Lastly, wisdom teeth can also cause the rest of your teeth to decay, which can consequently lead to breakage. In such cases, sacrificing your wisdom teeth to save the rest of your molars becomes important.
As weak as the case may be by now in favor of your wisdom teeth, you can let them be if they don’t get in the way and you maintain proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. However, if you do need extraction, make sure you get it done as soon as possible as after the age of 25, it might be very difficult to remove them.
