Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, usually come in during the late teen years and early twenties. But what if you are now past that age and have yet to have your wisdom teeth extracted? Are you too old now? Fortunately, the answer is no! It’s never too late to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Let’s take a look at the importance of having them removed, regardless of age.

The Benefits of Extracting Wisdom Teeth

It is important to understand why it is so essential to extract wisdom teeth before they start to cause problems. Here are a few reasons why it’s beneficial:

Damage Prevention – One issue with leaving wisdom teeth in is that they can cause overcrowding in the mouth and push other teeth out of alignment. This can lead to major dental problems such as bite issues, jaw pain, tooth decay, infection, and more. Removing your wisdom teeth can prevent all these issues from happening down the road.

Improved Oral Health – Another benefit of having your wisdom teeth removed is improved oral hygiene. With an overcrowded mouth due to extra molars, it can be difficult to brush and floss properly around them. This can lead to plaque buildup and other bacterial infections due to lack of proper dental care. Extracting them will give you much easier access for cleaning which will improve overall oral health.

Reduced Risk of Infection – If your wisdom teeth become impacted or partially impacted (stuck under the gum line), they are much more prone to infection than fully emerged molars since bacteria can get trapped in between them and the gum tissue. Removing these impacted or partially impacted molars can reduce your risk of infection significantly.