A Wisdom Tooth Cavity Smarts

A wisdom tooth cavity is common for those who hold on to their wisdom teeth, which is why most dentitsts remove them. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of molars to erupt in the back of your mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. While some people have plenty of room for their wisdom teeth resulting in relatively painless emergence, many have overcrowding issues that cause wisdom teeth to become impacted, only partially emerge, or come in at odd angles.

Impacted wisdom teeth create a breeding ground for bacteria, greatly increasing the risk of tooth decay and cavities even when wisdom teeth have not fully broken through the surface of the gums. Unfortunately, the location of wisdom teeth also makes them hard to see and difficult to keep clean. By the time you notice a wisdom tooth cavity, it may require more invasive treatment.

What Causes Cavities in Wisdom Teeth?

To understand wisdom tooth decay, you must first understand what causes cavities. Cavities develop as a result of the interplay between acid-producing bacteria and fermentable carbohydrates such as sugar. Each time you eat a carbohydrate-containing food like bread, candy, pasta, etc., the bacteria use the sugars and starches to produce acids that demineralize and dissolve the enamel surface of your teeth, eventually creating a pocket of decay.

Wisdom teeth are especially prone to cavities due to their cramped position at the very back of the mouth. Removing food and plaque is difficult in these tight, hard-to-reach spots, making a cavity between these teeth, or a cavity at the gum line common. Impacted or partially visible wisdom teeth also create hard to clean spaces between the tooth and gum line that allow plaque to be easily trapped. The longer plaque sits on your teeth, the more acid is produced leading to faster demineralization of enamel and rapid caries (tooth cavity) development.

Symptoms of a Wisdom Tooth Cavity

Wisdom teeth, positioned at the very back of the mouth, often become painful once tooth decay sets in. However, wisdom tooth cavities don’t always cause overt symptoms in the early stages. Many people discover their dental decay only when the dentist examines, probes around, and x-rays the area behind the last visible molars. If you wait for sensations of pain before getting checked, the cavity and resultant infection may progress to an advanced stage by the time you seek care.

Common signs and symptoms signaling it’s time to see your dentist include tooth sensitivity, gum tenderness, swelling, bad breath, bad taste, and of course pain. You may notice pain from wisdom tooth decay when eating hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods. The pain tends to be sharp and come and go rather than constant. As more tooth structure erodes, you may have spontaneous pain that wakes you from sleep even without any trigger. The involved wisdom tooth itself may ache deeply with chewing pressure. In some cases, the pain seems to come from the gum tissue behind the wisdom teeth rather than the actual molars. If pericoronitis develops (inflamed gums surrounding a partially erupted wisdom tooth), severe pain often occurs when opening and closing the mouth.

Advanced wisdom tooth decay allows infection, called a dental abscess, to form at the tooth root tip inside the jawbone. Abscesses lead to throbbing pain that seems to pulse with your heartbeat. The adjacent gum tissues become extremely sore and swollen, gradually spreading deeper swelling through the jaw and into the neck over a day or two. Lymph nodes just under the jawbone may become very tender. Pus may drain into the mouth resulting in a foul, bitter taste. In severe cases, a wisdom tooth abscess can trigger headache, difficulty swallowing, fever, and illness from the spread of bacteria into the bloodstream. If the intense jaw pain keeps you from sleeping, immediate dental evaluation for antibiotics and drainage of the abscess becomes critical to halt the rapidly progressing infection.

Get Your Wisdom Teeth Examined

Given how fast wisdom tooth decay can silently progress, it is vital not to overlook your third molars. Start being vigilant by age 17 when wisdom teeth start coming in. Schedule regular dental cleanings and ask your dentist to thoroughly examine your wisdom teeth. Be sure to speak up about any odd symptoms you might have notice so cavities and gum disease are caught early and monitored. Annual dental x-rays after age 18 can also reveal issues around erupting or impacted wisdom teeth before you have symptoms.

Treatments for A Wisdom Tooth Cavity

Treating wisdom tooth decay as early as possible saves your tooth and prevents invasive, complex procedures later on. Here are some common treatment approaches:

Monitoring Small Areas of Decay – If the decay is tiny, your dentist may decide to watch and wait while having you come in more often for evaluation. Avoiding immediate drilling preserves as much healthy tooth structure as possible. Special medication may be applied to help fight bacteria and halt the decay process.

Fillings – If drilling out decay is required, be aware wisdom tooth fillings can be more intricate due to difficult access and odd angles. Your dentist will numb the area well before etching out all infected material. The cost of the cavity filling will depend on what material it will be filled with – composite resin (tooth-colored material), amalgam (silver-colored alloy), or gold.

Root Canals – Instead of removing an infected wisdom tooth, root canal therapy may be done to save it. Here the tooth pulp and interior decay are removed and the remaining chamber cleaned and sealed. Though molars are harder to treat, this eliminates the infection and allows you to keep your tooth.

Extraction – Wisdom teeth that are too decayed, poorly positioned, or causing chronic pain often require extraction. Oral surgeons have specialized tools to cut through gum tissue and carefully loosen then remove impacted wisdom teeth. Though the swelling, stiffness, and empty spaces feel weird at first, you heal rapidly.

How To Prevent A Wisdom Tooth Cavity

Wisdom teeth are notoriously difficult to keep fully clean and free of decay due to their location in the farthest reaches of the mouth. However, implementing a diligent hygiene routine and smart dietary choices can help keep your third molars cavity-free, according to the Oral Health Foundation. Invest in tools to enhance your access to those hard-to-reach spots. A curved bristled toothbrush or compact oral irrigator allows you to direct mechanical cleaning and anti-bacterial rinses back behind your rear molars. Be sure to brush the outer, inner, chewing, and tongue-side surfaces of each wisdom tooth.

Since wisdom teeth have bumps, grooves pits, and odd angles ripe for trapping particles, take care to floss behind your last tooth daily. Use floss threaders if you cannot otherwise get the floss fully between your molars. Special floss with rigid ends also helps guide the string into position around impacted or partially emerged wisdom teeth. Ask your dental hygienist to demonstrate proper flossing technique to optimize cleaning between your teeth.

Rinsing your mouth with an ADA-accepted antibacterial mouthwash will further deter acid-producing oral bacteria from adhering around wisdom teeth and infiltrating small gaps in the enamel. Look for rinses containing cetylpyridinium chloride to help sterilize plaque biofilm and oral debris in hard-to-access wisdom tooth areas. Swish energetically for 30 seconds before spitting.

Be meticulous regarding your diet too, since fermentable carbohydrates feed the bacteria that dissolve tooth enamel. Cut back on all sugary and starchy items, acidic foods and juices, candy and soda. Avoid constantly snacking day and night, giving your mouth extended break periods to neutralize in pH. This creates a less hospitable environment for the bacteria causing caries and periodontal disease. Follow this preventive oral care routine to help your wisdom teeth remain healthy and functional for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions