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Wisdom teeth are a problem for people the world over. Dental surgeons estimate that the vast majority of people will require their wisdom teeth removed for one reason or another. These third molars start forming in the early teens and usually erupt into the mouth in the early twenties.

Swollen and Painful Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth used to serve a purpose when our diet consisted of rough unprocessed foods that would wear teeth down at a much faster rate than we experience in the modern world. Since the arrival of modern dentistry, oral hygiene education and generally improved diets, we now have no use for these extra teeth and they're often the source of a lot of discomfort as they erupt into mouths that are already full of teeth.

Is is Safe or Painful to have a Wisdom Tooth Removed?

Getting a troublesome wisdom tooth extracted is recommended. If the teeth are impacted (pressing into the existing molars) then inflammation and gum disease can start to set in around the swollen tissue. It's advised to have the teeth removed earlier rather that later, since the healing time is shorter and the roots are less established.

Your regular dentist will usually be able to remove a wisdom tooth, but occasionally an oral surgeon will be needed to remove a wisdom tooth in the lower jaw. This is because the wisdom teeth in the lower jaw can be precariously close to an important nerve, so the extraction is more complicated.

Pain medicine ranging from local anesthetic to general anesthetic may be used depending on your specific case.

Symptoms of a Problematic Wisdom Tooth.

• Aching at the back of the mouth
• Swelling of the gum in the back of your mouth
• Difficulty opening your jaw
• Bad breath
• A bad taste in the mouth
• Pain when chewing