7 Signs You Need Wisdom Teeth Surgery

Most people's wisdom teeth start to emerge through the gum line in their later teenage years, and these molars can often cause problems that can negatively affect a person's dental health and overall well-being. Wisdom teeth extraction isn't always necessary, but you should definitely have these teeth removed if you start to notice any of the following problems. 

1. Pain

Pain at the back of the mouth is usually the most obvious sign of a wisdom tooth problem, and the pain may persist until you have the molars removed. The pain will likely worsen as the wisdom teeth continue to emerge and press against the nerves and adjacent bones.

After you've had your wisdom teeth removed and you've recovered from your procedure, you likely won't feel pain in this area again.

2. Redness and Swelling

Swelling and redness caused by inflammation often occur in the body as defense mechanisms. Extra fluid from the movement of white blood cells can also gather and swell the areas around your wisdom teeth if your body is trying to defend itself. Even if you don't have a lot of pain around your wisdom teeth, any swelling or redness could mean that something is wrong with these molars.

3. No Room for Growth

The inside of your mouth might be too small for your wisdom teeth to emerge completely, and X-ray imaging and a visual examination can inform you of this problem if your molars have yet to emerge. Wisdom teeth can also grow at an angle and become impacted if other teeth block their growth path. Your wisdom teeth may also be extra large and cause problems as they grow in through the gum line.

4. Tooth Decay

Like the other teeth in your mouth, wisdom teeth can develop cavities and start to decay. The wisdom teeth are particularly susceptible to cavities since these molars are often more difficult to reach with floss or a toothbrush to clean. Instead of getting wisdom teeth cavities filled, an oral surgeon will likely recommend having the teeth removed so that you can avoid further problems.

5. Infection

Infections can also form in the tissues around your wisdom teeth. These infections may be the result of poor oral hygiene that happens if you aren't able to reach and clean your wisdom teeth sufficiently. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to infections. Any infections could put you at risk for other health problems, and wisdom teeth extraction may be the best way to prevent these infections.

6. Cyst or Tumor Growth

Dentigerous cysts can sometimes grow in the jawbone where wisdom teeth are located if the molars become impacted. These fluid-filled sacs can cause additional pain and may damage the jawbone and nerves along with any neighboring teeth. In some cases, these sacs evolve into noncancerous tumors that can also have damaging effects if they aren't removed with surgery.

7. Bad Taste in Mouth

If you have a persistent bad taste in your mouth, your wisdom teeth might be to blame. Food can get caught in between wisdom teeth and be difficult to remove, and this can form a bad taste in your mouth that causes chronic bad breath (halitosis). A foul odor in your mouth might also be caused by wisdom teeth that block sinus passages. Tooth decay is another known cause of halitosis. 

Wisdom teeth removal is often a wise decision and can prevent even bigger troubles down the road. Contact the San Diego Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to learn more about why wisdom teeth sometimes need to be extracted and to schedule an appointment.