Wisdom teeth are often unable to erupt properly due to a lack of space in the mouth. As a result, they can become impacted, meaning they’re partially or fully trapped under the gums. An impacted wisdom tooth needs to be removed quickly before it can lead to adverse health effects. But how can you tell if a wisdom tooth is impacted? Here are 5 possible warning signs to look for.

Your smile is easily one of your most noticeable features—especially if your pearly whites are healthy, bright, and uniform! But not all of your teeth look exactly the same or serve similar functions: the sharper teeth towards the front of your mouth are meant for biting and tearing into food, while your flatter teeth near the back grind it all down. However, most people have a third set of molars, referred to as wisdom teeth; but these teeth are often extracted during early adulthood. Keep reading to learn a little more about these teeth, why we have them, and why they sometimes need to come out.