Tens of millions of people will need to have their wisdom teeth removed before the age of 25.
Millions of people will need to have their wisdom teeth removed before the age of 25. However, if you’re older than 25, no worries! You can have your wisdom teeth extracted at any age if they become problematic. It’s never the best idea to delay wisdom tooth extraction if an issue arises. Doing so can cause complications further down the line. Here are some facts about why wisdom teeth extraction can be vital for your dental health.
Why Should Wisdom Teeth Be Extracted?
Millions of people fall victim to not having their wisdom teeth removed because they don’t feel any pain. According to the ADA, wisdom teeth that form correctly aren’t problematic. However, when they don’t have to have enough room to grow, it can lead to a lieu of dental problems regardless if you feel the pain or not. Here are a few of many issues that can result in a delay of wisdom tooth extraction:
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Difficulty opening the mouth.
- Damage to other surrounding teeth
Another crucial thing to note is that wisdom teeth, if erupted, are difficult to clean. Sometimes it’s incredibly challenging to reach back there, which explains why halitosis or swelling could be an issue.
In many cases, we see 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) which have large painless cavities simply because they are hard to reach and therefore hard keep clean.
Recovery Tips
Once again, you can have your third molars removed at any time. However, recovery may be more comfortable for younger patients because their roots have not formed fully and their bone is typically more forgiving. With this in mind, you should not avoid the procedure if it begins to affect your dental health. Most patients recover reasonably quickly. Typically, it takes no more than a week, but each patient is different. If you experience any discomfort, here are some tips that could help:
- Intermittently apply ice packs or a warm compress to your mouth
- Stick to a soft food diet
- Use a gauze pad and put it over the extraction site if you experience any post-procedure bleeding
- Take prescribed pain medication and antibiotics
The Main Takeaway
You’re never too old to tackle any dental health issues. The sooner, the better, but never addressing your health is detrimental. You are the best advocate for your dental health, and we will always strive to encourage and motivate our patients to take care of themselves.
Come to Smile Designs of Olney for All of Your Cosmetic Procedures
For your smile makeover or any other dental needs, come to Smile Designs of Olney! Book an appointment with us. Whether you want your teeth whitened, straightened, or restored altogether, we pride ourselves in quality patient care and giving you the smile makeover that you deserve. Our small, professional staff will make you feel right at home. We service the Montgomery County regions including Olney, Laytonsville, Brookville, Silver Spring, Rockville, Columbia, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Germantown, MD. Contact us at (301) 260-0700, visit us online, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.