Taking Care of Your Wisdom Teeth With Milford Dentists

Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25 (supposedly heralding our growing wisdom), and they nestle right at the back of the mouth, behind the second molars. You may be surprised to hear that not everyone has them, although this probably does not indicate these people are not wise!

We have smaller jaws than our ancestors, allowing for less room in our mouths to accommodate wisdom teeth, and it is widely believed that this is an evolutionary development in response to changes in our diet to less fibrous foods that require less chewing. Because of the lack of room, wisdom teeth often don’t break through (erupt) fully or at all, instead becoming impacted (wedged against bone or existing teeth and unable to fully emerge).

There are several reasons why you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed, including tooth decay that cannot be treated, abscessing around the wisdom tooth, infection of the gum flap overlying the partially erupted wisdom tooth, infection of the bone, or cysts or tumours involving the wisdom tooth.

If you are worried about or are having problems with your wisdom teeth you should book in to Milford Dentists for a wisdom tooth assessment. In particular Tristan has a great deal of experience in wisdom tooth problems and wisdom tooth removal, having worked for several years in the oral surgery department of the largest hospital in Manchester.

To prevent cavities and infection, extra care needs to be taken of wisdom teeth that are not fully erupted, and you must remember to floss between all of your teeth, and especially between the wisdom tooth and the tooth in front of it. You should also ensure that your brush reaches all the way to the back when brushing your teeth.

For more information on caring for your wisdom teeth, and the results of wisdom tooth extraction, please go to http://www.milforddentists.co.nz, and to learn more about tooth whitening, tooth extraction and dental clinics.