We have all heard of wisdom teeth or maybe have had them removed, and, ironically, for something that literally means understanding, most people have no clue what these teeth even are and the importance of getting to know your own wisdom teeth if you haven’t already.

Did you know…

We mainly grow our teeth as infants and refer to them as, baby teeth. During our adolescence, we lose our baby teeth and gain what we refer to as our adult teeth.  So where does the word wisdom teeth come into play? Well, they really are the outliers of dental growth, and come in way later in life than the rest of your teeth. Most people don’t get wisdom teeth until they are around 18-25 years old. Due to the relatively older age at which they emerge, the word wisdom is in reference to the age old saying–the older you are the wiser you become.

A little history

Humans have evolved greatly over time and the way we eat now is much different then how we use to eat. No one was boiling, steaming, cooking vegetables or meat millions of years ago–your teeth were your main tool when it came to eating food. Which is why we use to have larger jaws and require a third molar–commonly referred to as the wisdom teeth.

As humans have evolved, our jaws have become much smaller because we cook and have other tools to use to make eating easier and less harsh on our teeth. We always hear about people getting these teeth extracted because of lack of room in the mouth now that we do not need such as large jaw. You would think evolution would have gotten rid of these extra teeth first, before getting rid of the space for it…just a thought.

The fascinating fact about these teeth is the variability. Not everyone gets them, or only gets a few, and some people have them and they never surface. The lack of surfacing can be from them becoming impacted–meaning being inhibited by a neighboring tooth or their gums, ultimately causing damage and future health problems. The inconsistency of wisdom teeth, I believe, is what causes the confusion and lack of knowledge surrounding the big question– what do I do with them?

It’s usually assumed that you must get them extracted, but as previously mentioned– people’s wisdom teeth vary in the amount they may or may not have, and how they are positioned in your mouth.

Learning about your own wisdom teeth

In order to decide what’s best for your health, wisdom teeth should be discussed at some point during a dental checkup, and then checked up on from time to time moving forward.

For those who have never had wisdom teeth trouble in their early adult years, can still end up having issues down the line if not aware and or are properly taking care of their wisdom teeth.

Make sure to ask your doctor about what your personal plan should be in regard to your wisdom teeth and why. That way you never have to worry about them impactingyour life