Wisdom tooth cavity, one of the major concerns of young adults. Because they grow or erupt in the back of the mouth, they grow either misaligned or crowded. This causes infections and problem cleaning at the back. Almost 25% of people with asymptomatic wisdom teeth get gum infections.

If the impacted wisdom tooth is not treated at the right time, it may increase the need for tooth filling and cause severe periodontal disease. In the following article, we will take a deep look at what wisdom teeth are and how they are at a high risk of forming cavities.

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth, also called the third molars, grow at the back of your mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because they come in once a person becomes mature. They are the only teeth that come in when you are an adult. People mostly get 4 wisdom teeth, 2 at lower and 2 at the upper jaw. Wisdom teeth can become impacted because of their growth patterns and angles. If there is not enough space between them, they may get infected and filled up with wisdom tooth cavity.

However, some people may not get wisdom teeth at all. As per the stats, around 37% of people have missing third molars.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Normally they may not show any symptoms, but if infected or overcrowded, can cause severe symptoms as follow:

Symptoms

• Swollen and bleeding gums: if you are going through bleeding or swollen gums, you may want to consider going to a dentist, as this can be a sign of impacted wisdom teeth.
• Swelling or pain in your jaw: Swelling in your jaw is a big concern and it may be caused by an impacted wisdom tooth. An impacted wisdom tooth is so called because it does not have enough space to emerge out of the gums or develop properly, thus causing pain and swelling. This may also harm the surrounding teeth.

Causes

Wisdom tooth becomes impacted if it does not find its way up with other teeth to develop and grow. This is because in some cases, the mouth is so filled up with teeth that there is no space left for wisdom teeth to emerge or erupt properly. This is called a partially impacted tooth. But if the tooth does not come out of the gums, it is called fully impacted. Here are some causes of impacted wisdom tooth:

• The tooth may never appear out of the gums and stay within the jawbone, thus causing pain and swelling.
• It may grow towards the angle of the surrounding teeth.
• It may grow in a way that only the crown is visible.

Wisdom tooth cavity

Wisdom teeth are more at risk of developing cavities due to many reasons, such as bad oral hygiene, their growth is at an angle that cannot be reached by the bristles of your toothbrush, or bad diet. Getting proper treatment for wisdom tooth cavity is important. Whether tooth filling or tooth extraction, a good treatment must be followed to avoid further harm to the oral cavity. The causes of the wisdom tooth cavity are as follow:

Causes

• Bad oral hygiene: Ignoring brushing or flossing might cause the plaque and bacteria to build up in your mouth and lead to cavity formation. Brushing and flossing are an essential part of a person’s daily routine and must be taken seriously.
• Bad diet: Ensuring a healthy diet is necessary if you want to avoid enamel disruption and cavity formation. If not taken care of properly, acidic food can cause cavities and you may need tooth filling as a result.
• Growth angle of the teeth: You wisdom teeth may have grown at an angle that they are not able to be reached by the bristles of your toothbrush. This causes difficulty while cleaning the teeth, thus increasing the chances of cavity formation.

Signs and Symptoms

• Sensitive teeth: You may experience sensitivity to different kinds of foods, such as hot or cold food. You may also feel difficulty while chewing on hard food items like sweets and candies.
• Pain: Know that any intensive pain that you experience near your wisdom tooth can also be a symptom of cavities. 
• Bad odor: Your breath may smell bad due to accumulation of bacteria and plaque in your mouth.
• Discomfort while chewing: You may experience pain or difficulty while chewing.

Treatment options

A timely dental appointment will help you figure out your treatment options. Here are some treatment options for cavities in wisdom teeth:

1. Tooth filling: tooth filling is recommended by a doctor when your wisdom teeth are filled with cavities and are decaying day by day. The decayed area is filled up with a composite resin to give your teeth a shape.
2. Root canal: Root canal becomes essential if there is extensive decay or infection in your teeth. Root canal therapy will remove the infected tissue to ensure your tooth’s health.
3. Tooth extraction: It is the last option required when the issue has become too complicated and cannot be treated by any other treatment option.

Risks

• Pain and infection in surrounding tissues.
• Bone damage leading to bone loss.
• Teeth extraction if severe complications occur.

Prevention

• Regular checkups must be maintained to avoid wisdom tooth cavity.
• Oral hygiene maintenance is necessary. You must ensure proper brushing and flossing to avoid and prevent cavity build-up.
• Mouthguard must be used during sports to prevent bacteria from entering the mouth.

Conclusion

In coming to an end, wisdom tooth cavity is an important concern that must be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid tooth filling or extraction. One of the major reasons for cavity build-up in wisdom teeth is that the mouth is so filled with teeth that leave no space for wisdom teeth to grow.

If you are also experiencing the symptoms of wisdom tooth cavity and want to get the best treatment, look no further than Lycian Dental Clinic. Whether tooth filling or extraction, our team at Lycian will give you the best services.