Centuries ago, early man needed wisdom teeth replace back molars that were worn down due to dietary options. Today, however, we no longer need them, and they can often cause many oral health issues such as impaction, gum disease, crowding, and increased cavities.
The good news is that you can protect your healthy teeth with wisdom tooth extraction. Your dentist can remove these unnecessary teeth and prevent them from causing harm to your oral health.
Your wisdom teeth are four “third molars” that erupt at the back of your mouth at around age 17 to 26. Historians believe that they initially developed as a set of backup teeth to replace the second set of molars that may have become worn down due to diets heavy in roots, plants, and tough meats.
Over the centuries as cooking methods and food options have changed, modern man no longer needed these backup teeth, and with time the human jaw got smaller and less able to fit them. Today, they are not just unnecessary, but they often cause many oral health problems due to this lack of space.
While they may seem harmless, wisdom teeth can often cause a lot of damage to your existing adult teeth. They can grow sideways (impaction) causing surrounding teeth to become crowded or break. Due to their position, they can also be very difficult to brush and floss around, leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities and your gums at risk for gum disease.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a very common procedure. When you arrive, your dentist will numb your mouth and ensure that you are adequately sedated. Once you are unable to feel any pain or discomfort, your dentist will then remove your wisdom teeth and stitch the sites closed with a dissolving suture. These sutures do not need to be removed and will completely dissolve within about a week or so.
Your mouth will then be packed with gauze to bite on to stop any bleeding, and you will be able to return home to rest and recover.
Wisdom tooth recovery is generally well tolerated. Make sure you follow the care instructions provided by your dentist and stay on schedule with your pain medication. Be sure to avoid hot beverages for the first 24 hours after your extraction and avoid caffeine for two or three days. Do not drink from a straw for at least one full week.
Your recovery diet should consist of soft foods or liquids for the first few days. If you are in any discomfort, apply cold compresses to your cheeks over the extraction sites for greater pain relief. Make sure that you get plenty of rest and do not participate in any strenuous activity for at least two to three days.
