The wisdom teeth typically start to erupt during the late teens or early adult years, and dentists often recommend removing them so that they don’t cause problems. As such, wisdom teeth extraction is sometimes seen as a sort of rite of passage for young adults. But are wisdom teeth actually something that everyone is born with? And if you do have them, will they necessarily need to be extracted? Here are the facts.

When you hear the words “wisdom teeth,” what comes to mind? Many people envision eating ice cream during the recovery process before they think of these teeth being the source of acute or chronic teeth and jaw pain. In fact, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) shared that roughly 85 percent of them need to be pulled for that very reason. Plus, 90 percent of patients with wisdom tooth pain have at least one impacted tooth. But, how will you know if you have one? Read on for warning signs and how wisdom tooth removal in Allen can help.

During your most recent visit to the dentist, you were informed that you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. Though you may know people who have had them pulled before, you had never considered the fact that you may need to get yours extracted as well. Even if the eruption of these teeth hasn’t caused you any pain or discomfort, there are other reasons why you may need to have them pulled. Continue reading to learn about some reasons for wisdom teeth removal as well as how the procedure works.

The average adult has 32 teeth, with each tooth serving a specific purpose. The incisors in the front of your mouth tear food into small pieces to make them easier to chew. Your molars grind the food to make it small enough to swallow. Adults have 3 sets of molars on the top and bottom; however, the third set doesn’t appear until the late teen years. Wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 17 and 21, but many people need to have them removed. 5 million people annually have them extracted. With so many extractions each year, why do we even have wisdom teeth? Believe it or not, they once served an important purpose, but nowadays they are more of a nuisance, and here’s why.

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Everyone wants to recover as quickly as possible after a wisdom tooth extraction, and one of the simplest ways to ensure this happens is to get enough sleep in the weeks after the procedure. Of course, that’s easier said than done. But with these 3 tips for sleeping after a wisdom tooth extraction, you’ll be sawing logs and feeling like yourself before you know it.

In most peoples’ minds, physical exercise is a near-absolute good. Unless you’re sick or injured, it only benefits you and has no downsides. However, did you know exercise could hurt your oral health if you’re not careful? The truth is that workouts and the like can sometimes damage teeth and gums. That said, you’ll want to take steps to ensure your physical fitness doesn’t risk your smile. Here’s a summary of how exercise can harm oral health and what you can do to avoid such outcomes.

You probably feel pretty happy if you’ve just had a teeth whitening procedure. After all, your smile is back to its original, gleaming white color! Still, you’ll need to be careful if you want your treatment results to last. Depending on your eating, your teeth could get yellow and brown stains that undo the bleaching process. That said, you should try to eat a “white diet” of smile-friendly meals that keep your whitened smile around. Luckily, your Allen dentist can help you do so. Read on to learn why whitened tooth enamel can stain and four foods that whiten teeth.

When you experience significant dental pain, you might hesitate to schedule an appointment, particularly if you are nervous about undergoing treatment. But there is no need to worry. While addressing a dental emergency, your dentist will strive to use the most conservative and comfortable means possible to get your oral health back on track. Here is a brief description of some procedures that are commonly used to get patients out of pain and on the road to recovery:

Around the world, millions of people rely on their morning cup of coffee to help them ease into the day. If you are among them, you may have questions about how cosmetic dentistry might affect your daily cup of Joe. Specifically, you may wonder, can you drink coffee with veneers? Yes, you can! Here is some practical guidance to help you enjoy your favorite morning beverage without endangering your veneers:

Dentures let people who have lost one or both arches of teeth continue to eat, speak, and smile comfortably every day. But while dentures are made to be durable, they do typically need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years or so – possibly sooner if they’re damaged in some way. How will you know when it’s time for new dentures?  Below are 4 key warning signs that you should watch out for; any one of them could be a clue that you need to call your dentist in the near future to talk about having your dentures replaced.