Many of us have had our wisdom teeth removed, usually in our late teens or early twenties, but not necessarily everyone needs them out. While dentists often have varying opinions on wisdom tooth extraction, we like to take the most conservative approach, which is to say if it's not broken (or unhealthy), don't fix it! Here are some general guidelines to help make an educated decision about when wisdom teeth should be extracted:

DO consult a dentist about extracting your wisdom teeth if:

You are experiencing chronic pain in the area of your wisdom teeth
You have a sensation of a bad taste/breath coming from the area of your wisdom teeth
Pus, swollen gums, or ulcers on your cheek exist around a wisdom tooth
You have pain or difficulty opening your mouth
You have an earache or swollen glands

Your dentist may advise NOT to remove your wisdom teeth if they are:

Healthy and cavity-free
Grown in completely, meaning there was enough space for them in your jaw and they are not pushing against the teeth in front of them
Positioned correctly and able to come together properly with their opposing teeth
Properly cleanable as a part of your daily oral hygiene routine, meaning you can brush and floss all the way back there

When in doubt, always consult your dentist because if left untreated, infected wisdom teeth can become a serious and painful problem, sometimes needing emergency extraction.