If you've reached your 20s and your wisdom teeth have still not erupted into your mouth, then chances are good that they are impacted. In other words, they are "stuck" up within your jaw bone in a way that prevents them from erupting on their own. Dentists generally recommend having impacted wisdom teeth removed while you're still young, even if you're not currently dealing with any negative symptoms from them. Here's a look at some of the dangers you'll face if you fail to heed that advice.
Jaw Infections
The pressure of the impacted wisdom teeth on your jaw bone can weaken the tissues in your jaw, making them increasingly susceptible to infections. An infection in your jaw bone is certainly not something you want to deal with, since it can cause fever and extreme aches. You may even need to have some of your jaw bone removed if it becomes badly infected. There's also a risk that the infection could spread to your blood, leading to sepsis, which is all too often deadly and will certainly land you in the hospital.
Misaligned Teeth
The pressure of the impacted teeth from up and behind your other teeth may push these other teeth forward in your jaw. Over time, your smile may become more and more crooked. If you had braces as a kid, it won't take long before all of the hard work of the braces is undone. And solutions like invisible aligners and retainers won't do much to help, since there will still be pressure from the impacted teeth pushing your other teeth back out of place.
Keep in mind that misaligned teeth are not just less attractive. They're alos harder to keep clean, so you'll be more prone to decay and cavities. Also, misaligned teeth will throw off your bite, which may make it hard to chew and can cause your jaw to ache when you do chew.
TMJ Disorders
Your TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint between your skull and your lower jaw. It's located just under your ear, which is not far from the place where impacted wisdom teeth often reside. The impacted teeth can put pressure on this joint, causing it to swell and sometimes even pop out of place. This can make chewing hard, and it can also lead to serious aching and pain that even makes it hard to talk.
If you think your wisdom teeth may be impacted, visit your dentist to learn more about wisdom teeth removal. Keeping them is just not worth the risk!
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