How to Clean Partially Erupted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth make their presence known for many of us during the teenage years. Some will stay impacted for a long time and present no problems. For others, the teeth will erupt and cause serious pain. This may be a tell tale sign to get them pulled after consulting with a dentist. Then there are those people such as myself that have partially erupted wisdom teeth that have not been extracted. I have two partially erupted wisdom teeth on the bottom jaw that are here to stay. My upper exposed wisdom teeth were pulled many years ago, but the lower ones remained intact as a result of their deep roots managing to wrap around nerves in the jaw which made extraction unlikely. That being said, it has been a long journey to keep these hard to reach exposed lower teeth clean given the small amount of space to work with.

Dental Visits

For those living with exposed wisdom teeth, it is imperative to go to dentist every six months. The hygienist will get in there and provide a good cleaning along with the other teeth. Dentists are also good at providing additional equipment or tips to keeping these third molars clean. Most dentists will recommend the extracted teeth to get pulled at some point unless there are complications at which point they are going to remain.

Brushing

It is important to brush the wisdom teeth besides the others at least twice a day. The repeated brushings will keep the plaque and bacteria off the surface. Use toothpaste recommended by the American Dental Association. Make sure to use a brush that has a narrow tip capable of reaching the far rear portion of the mouth. The smaller head will also have an easier time getting under the gum flap that partially covers the wisdom tooth. If the brush is still too large, consider a tuft end or small round headed brush designed specifically for wisdom teeth. These small bristles are designed to sweep particles off tooth and partially clean under gum line. If this brush cannot be found at the store, consult your dentist or hygienist.

Flossing and Rinsing

Maintain a daily flossing routine at the end of the day. Flossing is as important as brushing when it comes to plaque prevention. Make sure to run the floss deep up alongside every tooth, including the wisdom teeth. Follow up the flossing routine with a good rinse. Select a good antiseptic rinse such as Listerine or Scope to swish around the mouth a few times. This thorough rinsing will safely remove all food particles resulting from flossing.

Remember to maintain a daily routine of two to three brushings per day at a minimum. Give the wisdom teeth extra care and spend time working the brush below the gum flap to remove those food particles capable of producing bacteria. This care will go a long way in keeping wisdom teeth clean and keeping the breath smelling fresh.