Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth in Teens

Wisdom teeth removals have become something of a rite of passage among teens and young adults. Some people have them removed because they don’t have room in their mouths to accommodate the extra set of molars. Others need to have them removed because their wisdom teeth have become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can be problematic if left unaddressed, which is why it’s wise to know the signs of impacted wisdom teeth.

Pain

Do you remember when your child first started cutting their molars as a toddler? Remember how uncomfortable they seemed? It makes sense for your teen to experience a certain level of discomfort as their wisdom teeth grow. If that discomfort is intense or radiates throughout the jaw, you may have more than a wisdom tooth growing in on your hands. Severe pain is a sign that the wisdom teeth may be impacted. Your teen may also experience headaches, trouble opening their mouth, swollen gums, and earaches.

Inflammation

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a lot of inflammation and swelling. Inflammation and swelling in the jaw and gums are pretty common. The neck and shoulder glands, sinuses, and face may become swollen and inflamed as well. The swelling and inflammation may cause the soft tissues around the teeth to become more sensitive, and they may become prone to bleeding when your teen brushes and flosses as well. 

Halitosis

Chances of your teen voluntarily letting you smell their breath are pretty small, but that may not stop you from catching a whiff of it anyway. If their breath smells bad, it could be due to an impacted wisdom tooth. Sometimes, wisdom teeth erupt part of the way before becoming impacted. Because of their size and location, it can be tough to thoroughly clean wisdom teeth and the surrounding tissue. It’s a lot easier for food particles to become trapped and for bacteria to grow. That can cause tooth decay, gum disease, infection, and bad breath.

Your teen’s smile is something they’ll carry with them their whole life. If either of you notices signs that their wisdom teeth are impacted, it’s important to have them removed as soon as possible to protect the health and beauty of their smile. Removing impacted wisdom teeth will prevent the wisdom teeth from pushing against other teeth and forcing them out of alignment. It will also reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. All of that adds up to a healthier, more beautiful smile for your teen.

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