When do you grow your wisdom teeth

Are your wisdom teeth growing in? There are benefits to having your third molars — commonly referred to as wisdom teeth — grow in, or erupt. Wisdom teeth generally erupt any time after 18 years of age and, if they are in the right position, can make chewing even easier or can fill the space of a missing molar. If you need a dental bridge, having wisdom teeth can also provide support, making the procedure more straightforward.

Wisdom tooth eruption is often not a straightforward affair, however. When your third molars are not in the right position to grow in properly, they may only partially erupt, leaving spaces in between your teeth that are hard to reach. This provides a place for bacteria to grow, which can lead to infection.

Wisdom teeth can also become impacted, which occurs when they don’t have enough room to grow in fully. As a result, they can become trapped under the gums or grow in sideways, which can cause all sorts of oral health issues.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth are coming in?

It’s important to recognize the normal signs of wisdom teeth growing in. While many people will have their third molars erupt without any issues, it’s common to experience symptoms such as swelling, pain, damage to other teeth, or infection. You’ll want to visit your dentist if you think your wisdom teeth are growing in, so they can be removed if necessary, before they cause serious side effects for your dental health.

Common signs of wisdom teeth growing in include:

1. Sensitivity and swelling

If you notice swelling at the back of your mouth on one or both sides, often accompanied by minor discomfort, then this is a key sign that your wisdom teeth are growing in.

If you catch your wisdom teeth at this stage, it’s a good idea to consult your dentist about whether they are in a healthy position. Your dentist can take x-rays to determine if there is enough room for your wisdom teeth to grow in without causing damage or crowding your other teeth.

2. Headaches

Sometimes, the signs of wisdom teeth growing in can be more subtle, as is the case with headaches. Wisdom teeth trapped under the gum or in the wrong position can cause overcrowding, and the resulting pressure and tension building up in the jaw can trigger headaches.

If you already suffer regularly from headaches, this symptom could easily go unnoticed. It’s best to continue visiting your dentist regularly, even if you aren’t experiencing any issues, to catch impacted wisdom teeth early with x-rays and determine the best course of action.

3. Infection

When your wisdom teeth partially erupt, it can provide a place for bacteria to grow, causing infections. How exactly does this happen? Even if you’re brushing twice a day and flossing correctly, you could still experience this symptom because of the way the impacted teeth affect your alignment.

When wisdom teeth are in the wrong position and erupt partway through the gums, it often creates a space where food can easily become trapped. It can be difficult to dislodge food caught in this opening, because of how tight the teeth are wedged against the other. The infection that’s caused by this is called pericoronitis, and is one of the most major symptoms that makes extraction time-sensitive.

You may be experiencing pericoronitis if you have severe pain near your back teeth, swelling of your gum tissue, pain when swallowing, or the discharge of pus from your gum tissue.

What should you do when your wisdom teeth are coming in?

If your wisdom teeth are not causing any problems and appear to be growing in straight, keep an eye on them. You may want to contact your dentist’s office to ask if they recommend making an appointment at this stage.

You should definitely visit your dentist for an evaluation if your wisdom teeth are causing any pain, including jaw pain or headaches. Pain most likely means that your teeth have become impacted and need to be extracted as soon as possible.

Don’t delay having your wisdom teeth extracted due to a fear of dental pain or injections. Putting off your wisdom teeth extraction could lead to severe dental complications, which will likely lead to even more dental procedures.

If you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted, but are hesitant because of a fear of dental needles, look for a dentist who offers pain-free injections. Many dental offices are using the DentalVibe Comfort Injection System, which eliminates the pain of dental injections by using vibration to block pain signals from the brain. Visit our directory to find a pain-free dentist near you!

Overview

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are your last set of adult teeth to grow in. Also called “third molars,” your wisdom teeth are located in the very back of your mouth.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow in properly and never cause any trouble. But often, wisdom teeth become partially or fully trapped (impacted) in your gums or jawbone. When this happens, it can result in infection, cavities, gum disease and other oral health issues. That’s why many healthcare providers recommend having your wisdom teeth removed.

Does everyone have wisdom teeth?

No, not everyone has wisdom teeth. One research study found that about 53% of the population has at least one wisdom tooth. And some people never develop wisdom teeth at all.

When do wisdom teeth come in?

Your wisdom teeth usually erupt (grow in) between the ages of 17 and 25. Keep in mind, though, that if you have wisdom teeth that are fully impacted in your gums or jawbone, you might not see them when you look in your mouth.

Do you have to remove wisdom teeth?

Not always. If your wisdom teeth come in normally and don’t cause any problems, you may not need to have them removed.

But if your wisdom teeth start causing pain or tenderness, schedule an appointment with your dentist. They can discuss your options in detail.

Function

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

We don’t really need our wisdom teeth. In fact, most healthcare providers consider them vestigial. This means they served a purpose at one point, but don’t anymore.

Our ancestors’ primitive diet consisted of a lot of raw plants, hard nuts and tough meats — and wisdom teeth were necessary to grind these foods for proper digestion. Today, modern food preparation and eating utensils have eliminated our need for wisdom teeth. As we got used to these dietary changes, our bodies went through some small evolutionary changes. For example, our jaws became smaller. This is why many people don’t have enough room in their mouths for their wisdom teeth to grow in.

Anatomy

Where are my wisdom teeth located?

Wisdom teeth erupt in the very back of your mouth, just behind your second molars. People who have all four wisdom teeth have one in each quadrant — the upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right.

What are the first signs of wisdom teeth coming in?

If you have wisdom teeth coming in, there are a few telltale signs and symptoms. You may notice:

• Redness or swelling in your gums, behind your last molars.
• Jaw pain or tenderness.
• Facial pain, due to wisdom teeth putting pressure on nerves.
• White flecks behind your last molars. These spots are likely the tops of your new teeth erupting through your gums.

Conditions and Disorders

What are some conditions that affect wisdom teeth?

Some people develop complications due to impacted wisdom teeth or wisdom teeth that haven’t erupted properly. These complications may include:

• Wisdom teeth pain.
• Infection.
• Cavities.
• Gum disease.
• Damage to neighboring teeth.
• Cysts.
• Tumors.

What are the most common treatments for wisdom teeth?

The most common treatment is wisdom teeth removal. This procedure is usually done under sedation in your dentist or an oral surgeon’s office. But it can also be done under general anesthesia in a hospital when necessary.

People of any age can have their wisdom teeth removed. But to prevent future oral health complications, many people have their wisdom teeth removed in their late teens or early 20s.

It usually takes about one week to recover after wisdom teeth removal. Your surgeon will give you a list of postoperative instructions to help keep you comfortable during your recovery.

Unlike other teeth, wisdom teeth don’t provide a lot of function. So, there’s no need to replace them once they’re removed.

Care

How can I care for my wisdom teeth?

If you still have your wisdom teeth, your dentist will check them during routine exams to make sure they’re healthy. In addition to seeing your dentist regularly, you should:

• Brush your teeth two to three times a day. It can be difficult to reach the back surfaces of your wisdom teeth. Take your time and make sure you’re cleaning all the hard-to-reach areas.
• Floss your teeth once a day. Use dental floss to clean between your teeth. You can also use dental picks or interproximal brushes (tiny brushes that fit between your teeth) for hard-to-reach areas.
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash. Make sure it’s alcohol-free. This helps reduce your risk of dry mouth.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Wisdom teeth are vestigial (unnecessary) features of our bodies. Wisdom teeth removal has become a rite of passage for many teens and young adults around the globe. But if your wisdom teeth erupt in alignment with your other teeth and don’t cause any problems, you may not need to do anything. To learn more about your wisdom teeth — and whether you should remove them — talk to your healthcare provider.

Can wisdom teeth come in at 12?

Can wisdom teeth come in at 14?

What are signs of wisdom teeth?

Is growing wisdom teeth painful?