How to Keep Wisdom Teeth Clean

Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. Even if your wisdom teeth haven't fully erupted or are a bit out of alignment, your dentist may leave them alone if they don't think they will cause any problems. However, your dentist will keep a careful eye on these teeth in case they need extracting later. As part of this process, they will tell you to take extra care to keep your wisdom teeth clean.

These teeth can be prone to problems, especially if they haven't erupted fully and have areas of overlying gum. Bits of food can lodge in these places and turn into decay or infection. However, it's sometimes hard to clean teeth right at the back of your mouth. What should you do to keep them healthy?

Don't Forget the Teeth Are There

It's easy to miss out wisdom teeth when you're brushing and flossing because they are right at the back of your mouth. You may not be able to see them clearly and forget that they are there. It's important to clean your teeth right to the back; you should also floss back as far as you can go. While you may not get as perfect a clean as you do on more prominent teeth, this will help.

Look at Specialist Brushes and Flossers

You may find it easier to buy specialist products to clean your wisdom teeth. These often give you more flexibility and make brushing and flossing more comfortable. One of the problems that people have with cleaning back wisdom teeth is access. It can be hard to get your toothbrush far enough back to hit the tooth. The angle is often also uncomfortable.

An angled toothbrush with a small compact head can help. These toothbrushes have a small number of bristles compared to regular brushes. This, together with their angled handle, makes it easier to get into the back of the mouth to target wisdom teeth. Flossing can also be harder in these places. Again, you may find it hard to get a string of floss far enough back to get between your last regular tooth and its neighbouring wisdom tooth.

If you currently use regular floss, you may find it easier to use floss sticks in the back of your mouth. The handle on a floss stick gives you more control. If you're finding it hard to keep your wisdom teeth clean, ask your family dentist for advice. They can give you other tips on how to keep these teeth in good condition.

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