Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Bad Breath?
January 8, 2024 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Wisdom teeth themselves don’t directly cause bad breath, but they can contribute to it indirectly in certain situations. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of molars that typically emerge in the late teens or early twenties. They sometimes cause problems due to their position, size, or how they erupt.
Wisdom teeth can contribute to bad breath in the following ways:
- Difficulty cleaning: Wisdom teeth can be harder to clean properly due to their location at the back of the mouth. This can lead to food particles getting trapped around them, promoting bacterial growth, and causing bad breath.
- Partially erupted wisdom teeth: When wisdom teeth don’t fully erupt through the gumline, they can create a flap of gum tissue that traps food and bacteria. This can result in an area that’s challenging to clean thoroughly, leading to the accumulation of debris and potential for bad breath.
- Infection or gum disease: Wisdom teeth that are impacted (unable to fully emerge) can create pockets where bacteria can accumulate, leading to infection or gum disease around the affected area. Infections in the mouth can contribute to bad breath.
While wisdom teeth themselves may not directly cause bad breath, the challenges they pose in maintaining proper oral hygiene can increase the risk of oral health issues that contribute to halitosis (bad breath).
It’s crucial to maintain good oral hygiene, including regular brushing, flossing, and using an antimicrobial mouthwash, especially around the wisdom teeth area. Additionally, if there are issues with wisdom teeth causing pain, infection, or persistent bad breath, it’s advisable to consult a dentist or oral surgeon for evaluation and appropriate management, which may involve removal of problematic wisdom teeth to alleviate the issues and improve oral hygiene.