5 Clear Signs It’s Time to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth

support@wellness.com — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:31:44 Z

Wellness.com - 5 Clear Signs It’s Time to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth by Shen Chao

Wisdom teeth can be a real pain- literally. For some people, they grow in just fine and don’t cause any problems. But for a lot of us, they can bring all sorts of issues like pain, swelling, or even damage to other teeth. So, knowing when they need to come out is really important. Let’s break down the signs and reasons so you know what to watch out for. When Not to Remove Wisdom Teeth - A lot of people think you -have- to get your wisdom teeth removed, but that’s not always true. If your wisdom teeth come in healthy, straight, fully grown, and don’t mess up your other teeth, there is no need to take them out. Plus, if you can brush and floss them easily, they’re probably fine to stay. Just make sure your dentist keeps an eye on them during regular check-ups. When Wisdom Teeth Are a Problem - Wisdom teeth can cause trouble because often there’s no room for them to grow properly. They can get stuck under the gums, come in at weird angles, or push against other teeth, eventually causing pain and crowding. If they come in only partially, they get hard to clean and can lead to infections or gum disease. Even fully grown wisdom teeth can damage nearby teeth if they grow the wrong way. So, if you’re unsure, your dentist can take x-rays and let you know what’s best. When to Get Wisdom Teeth Taken Out - Not sure if your wisdom teeth need to go? Here are five signs telling you when is the time to get them taken out to avoid more trouble down the road:
- 1. Damage to Nearby Teeth - When your wisdom teeth start coming in, they can push against your other teeth, making them shift. This can cause pain, mess with your bite, and crowd your teeth, making it harder to clean them. If you leave it too long, you could end up with cavities or might need extra work to fix the teeth that got moved. If this is what you’re dealing with, -getting a tooth extraction- might be the way to go. 2. Sensitivity and Pain - If your back teeth hurt a lot, it could be your wisdom teeth coming in. This pain can spread to your jaw or head. You can try painkillers, but the pain will return. The only way to make it stop for good is to get those teeth removed. See a dentist, get them taken out, and stick to soft foods for a while. 3. Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste - Your wisdom teeth could be the reason for bad breath or a nasty taste in your mouth. When they start coming in, they create little pockets in your gums where bacteria build up. No matter how much you brush or floss, those pockets are hard to clean, so the bad breath and weird taste keep coming back. Getting the wisdom teeth removed gets rid of those pockets, making it easier to keep your mouth clean and fresh. 4. Difficulty Opening Your Mouth or Eating - Wisdom teeth can make your jaw stiff, so eating or even opening your mouth can feel tough. They might also push other teeth, making you bite your tongue or cheeks a lot. If it’s painful to eat, that’s a big sign they need to go. Once they’re removed, eating will get much easier. 5. Earaches or Headaches - Wisdom teeth pain can spread beyond your mouth. Since your jaw is connected to your ears, it can cause earaches or even headaches, making everything feel more uncomfortable. 6. Stiff Jaw - If there’s not enough room for your wisdom teeth, they can press on other teeth and make your jaw feel stiff or sore. You might notice it’s harder to open or close your mouth comfortably. Conclusion - Wisdom teeth can cause a lot of trouble, especially if there’s no room for them to grow properly. Things like pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, or infections are signs it might be time to get them checked out. Catching problems early and listening to your dentist’s advice can save you from bigger issues later.

Sleep Bruxism Can Be an Indicator of Underlying Health Problems

support@wellness.com — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 08:00:00 Z

Wellness.com - Sleep Bruxism Can Be an Indicator of Underlying Health Problems by Shen Chao

Exhaustion - Restlessness - Jaw pain - A dull, throbbing headache - Face pain -
Sounds a terrible way to start your day, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, this is what patients suffering from teeth grinding, or sleep bruxism, experience. Teeth grinding is known as bruxism, and when patients suffering from it do it unconsciously at night, it is known as sleep bruxism. One survey suggests that at least -8% of adults- grind their teeth at night. Sleep bruxism, if left untreated, can cause severe dental problems like tooth sensitivity, tooth damage, and in severe cases, sleep bruxism can even crack teeth. That said, sleep bruxism is an indicator of various health disorders, which may or may not be related to oral health. Let’s discuss a bit more about sleep bruxism and its few underlying causes. The Connection Between Sleep Bruxism and Sleep Apnea - One of the biggest causes of sleep bruxism is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax at night and interrupt breathing. 1 in 4 patients with sleep apnea experience some form of sleep bruxism. Research has found that teeth grinding helps patients suffering from sleep apnea breathe easier. However, it’s not clear how sleep bruxism and sleep apnea are linked, but it is believed that since sleep apnea causes a restriction in the upper airway, a stress response is triggered in the body that instigates teeth grinding and clenching, even when you’re fast asleep.

One of the ways to stop grinding teeth at night is by giving these patients a sleep apnea machine or a dental appliance to help them keep their airway open the whole night. This method has helped sleep apnea patients to stop grinding their teeth at night.

-Sleep Bruxism Can Be an Indication of Emotional Distress - If you have recently started experiencing a lot of stress, and anxiety, and might not know how to channel it well, research shows that one of the ways it might materialize is through teeth grinding at night. 70% of the cases of bruxism are caused due to stress. Additionally, if you are on antidepressants of the category of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) like paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline, you are more likely to experience bruxism. Poor Lifestyle Choices Can Cause Sleep Bruxism - There are things other than sleep apnea and stress that can cause teeth grinding at night, like: - Increased consumption of caffeine, soda, and energy drinks can stimulate muscle activity while affecting the quality of sleep. Alcohol can also cause disturbance of sleep patterns. Tobacco can also cause sleep bruxism. How to Combat Sleep Bruxism? -
-If your sleep bruxism is so severe that it needs treatment, here are some available options:-
- a) - Dental Intervention - Mouthguards will be custom-made by your dentist for dealing with sleep bruxism. Custom-made mouthguards will protect your teeth from damage, and reduce any strain that might come on your jaw. Your dentist might ask you to get reductive coronoplasty if misaligned teeth are the problem. Reductive coronoplasty will help you reshape or re-level your teeth. b) - Alternative Interventions - Botox Therapy - Studies have found that botox can reduce the frequency of teeth grinding in patients. Stress Management Therapy - Exercise to manage your stress levels better. Take a warm bath before bed to relax your jaw muscles. Try to cut down on the consumption of alcohol and caffeine, especially 3-4 hours before you go to sleep. Stop gnawing on pens, pencils, or biting your nails, instead look for better ways to manage stress. Biofeedback - A biofeedback therapist will help you control your jaw muscle movements through visual or auditory feedback. Even if you want to take an alternative treatment for teeth grinding, it is best to consult your dentist before undertaking any sort of treatment. It is always better to be safe, then sorry.

Wellness Posts by Shen Chao

5 Clear Signs It’s Time to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth

Sleep Bruxism Can Be an Indicator of Underlying Health Problems