Young Man Holding Young Woman on His BackWhen it comes to wisdom teeth, and in particular wisdom teeth extraction, many of our Pasadena patients seem to come in with some preconceived notions about getting and removing wisdom teeth. Well, we’re here to set the record straight. Here are 5 facts that you may not have known about wisdom teeth, and wisdom teeth extraction.

1) Modern Adults Don’t Need Wisdom Teeth

Our mouths are designed to hold 28 teeth, but wisdom teeth were essential for our ancestors. Why is that? Well, because our ancestors lacked access to proper oral hygiene and dental care, they often lost teeth in their youth. Around their teen or early adult years, wisdom teeth – or your third set of molars, as they are sometimes called – would come in. This extra set of teeth would help restore lost oral function for our ancestors. But today, wisdom teeth aren’t needed. This is why Lytle, Tate & Stamper recommends that you get wisdom teeth extraction at the first sign that your wisdom teeth are erupting or impacted.

2) Erupting Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Really Bad Breath

We’ve all heard that erupting wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain. But did you know they may cause bad breath, too? When your wisdom teeth are cutting through your gums, they make tiny tears in them, in which food debris and bacteria can get trapped. As the food debris decays and bacteria festers, Pasadena patients may notice they have a bad case of halitosis that just won’t go away, even right after they’ve brushed their teeth. What a great reason to consider wisdom teeth extraction in our Pasadena office!

3) Wisdom Teeth Can Interfere With Your Beautiful Smile

Most people have worked hard to achieve their beautiful smiles, with orthodontic treatment and even teeth whitening. But, when wisdom teeth come in, they can cause your existing teeth to shift. This can threaten your straight, beautiful smile and cause your teeth to crowd. If you have signs that your wisdom teeth are coming in, you should consider wisdom teeth extraction in our Pasadena office to protect that smile you’ve worked so hard to achieve and maintain.

4) Impacted Wisdom Teeth May Never Erupt on Their Own

Not all wisdom teeth cut through your gums. Some are impacted, meaning they are blocked from erupting either by other teeth or by your jawbone, especially if your wisdom teeth are coming in sideways. Impacted wisdom teeth can be extremely painful, which is a great reason to consider wisdom teeth extraction.

5) Wisdom Teeth Extraction Isn’t As Painful As You’ve Heard it Is

You’ve probably heard from your friends that wisdom teeth extraction is a terrible, painful experience. But when you work with the doctors at Lytle, Tate & Stamper, that just isn’t the case. We put your oral health and comfort first, and offer a variety of sedation dentistry options to keep you completely comfortable during your oral surgery.

If you’re in your teens or twenties and think you’re getting your wisdom teeth, don’t suffer through the pain of wisdom teeth eruption and impaction.

Call our Pasadena office today at (818) 240-1805 to schedule a wisdom teeth evaluation appointment to see if wisdom teeth extraction makes sense for you.

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