Wisdom Teeth

Adults can have up to 32 teeth. The wisdom teeth are the last to come through, right at the back. They usually appear when you are between 17 and 25 although sometimes they appear many years later. Nowadays people (especially Europeans) have jaws that are too small for all 32 teeth; 28 are often the most we have room for. So if all the other teeth are present and healthy, there may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through properly.

Do Wisdom Teeth always cause problems?

No. If there is enough room they will usually come through into a useful position and cause no more problems than any other tooth. Often there will be some slight discomfort as they come through, but this is only temporary and will disappear once the tooth is fully in position.

What problems should I be prepared for with Wisdom Teeth?

If part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum and part of it is still covered, the gum may become sore and perhaps swollen. Food particles and bacteria can collect under the gum edge, and it will be difficult to clean the area effectively. Your dentist or hygienist will tell you whether this is a temporary problem than can be dealt with by using mouthwashes and special cleaning methods (and possibly antibiotics) or whether it is better to have the tooth removed.

To Relieve the Discomfort?

Use a mouthwash of medium hot water with a teaspoonful of salt and swish the salt water around the tooth. Pain-relieving tablets such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Aspirin can be useful in the short term (please read instructions before use) but see your dentist if the pain continues.