How to Clean Your Wisdom Teeth

While dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth for most patients, some individuals keep their wisdom teeth for life. If your wisdom teeth are properly aligned and not crowding the rest of your teeth, you may not need to have them removed. With proper cleaning and regular dentist visits, you can keep your wisdom teeth in good shape for life. The hardest part about cleaning wisdom teeth is their hard-to-reach location. With the right implements you can keep this area of your mouth healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Angled toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Dental floss holder
• Mouthwash

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a toothbrush with an angled head for reaching your wisdom teeth. Choose one with a tapered end on the head, rather than square, as it will fit better in the back of your mouth.

• 2

  Brush twice a day with an ADA-recommended toothpaste. Use both a side-to-side and back-and-forth motion. Brush for at least two minutes each time.

• 3

  Floss your wisdom teeth at least once a day. It can be difficult to fit your fingers back near your wisdom teeth, so consider a dental floss holder, available at drug stores. Holders are usually elongated plastic implements you can purchase pre-threaded or thread yourself. As it is skinnier than your fingers, the holder may fit better into the far reaches of your mouth. Run the floss along both sides of every tooth and down to the gum.

• 4

  Use an alcohol-free mouthwash at least once a day. Follow the printed instructions on the bottle.