About Your Rear Teeth (Molars)

How to look after these important teeth and what can be done when problems occur.

Although some of us may be most concerned about our front teeth that people see when we smile, some of our most important teeth are largely hidden from view. We are talking, of course, about the rear teeth, or molars as they are sometimes referred to. These teeth may not need to be sparkling white as you might wish your front teeth to be, but their health is very important. Unfortunately, nature seems to have designed these teeth to be also quite tricky to keep clean.

Located as they are, at the rear of the mouth, these teeth which grind our food, starting the breakdown process to enable better digestion and absorption of important nutrients, are often quite difficult to reach when we clean our teeth. Indeed, one of the most common areas for tooth decay that we see in our Wickford patients is often at the very rear of the molars; an area often missed by the toothbrush.

How to look after your rear teeth

The most important thing to remember is that you should brush these teeth as well as you can. Pay just as much, and possibly even more, attention to these teeth as to your ‘social six’ that make up your smile. Do your best to reach the toothbrush to the back of these teeth especially. Clean the sides as well, and not just the top of the teeth.

Dental floss is very important here too. Although it might take a little practice, if you can get behind the tooth with floss, this will really help to remove any trapped food debris and bacteria that may have collected there. Special long handle flossing brushes may prove to be useful if you can’t manage to reach with regular dental floss.

Finally, either a mouthwash or even plain old water swilled vigorously around the mouth can help to remove larger pieces of food. Ideally, if you use water, this should be done before brushing so that you don’t wash away the remnants of toothpaste which will continue to help clean your teeth and gums after you have finished brushing and is why we recommend that patients of the Cygnet Dental Practice should only spit and not rinse after brushing.

Molar problems

There are a number of issues that can occur with rear teeth. Some of these may be a result of poor care whilst others can arise because of how they erupt in the mouth. The following are some of the most common ones.

Tooth decay

As mentioned already, good quality cleaning is important to keep these teeth in good condition. Cavities can be treated by filling them, or as is sometimes the case with a tooth that needs strength for chewing, dental crowns or inlays/onlays may be more appropriate in some circumstances. Due to the importance of strength for these teeth, we may also advise extraction and replacement with a tooth implant for the best experience, in certain situations.

Gum disease

This can occur around any tooth and your molars are no exception. Flossing is key here, along with a regular scale and polish by the hygienist at our Wickford dental clinic. Failure to keep these teeth clean can result in periodontitis which may lead to tooth loss if not treated.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Unfortunately, some rear teeth don’t come through as they should and this can cause them to become impacted. This means that they don’t erupt properly and become trapped in the gum or jawbone. Not only can this be very painful but may well lead to infections. If this occurs you will very likely need to have your wisdom tooth, or teeth, extracted by the dentist.

Cracked teeth

This is not uncommon in teeth that come under the amount of stress and strain that your rear teeth do, especially if they are not as healthy as they should be. When this occurs, the tooth may need to be filled and there is also a possibility of a root canal infection. We will need to x-ray the tooth to determine this and a root canal procedure may be necessary.

Malocclusion

It isn’t just your front teeth which can become crooked, although they may be the most noticeable ones. Rear teeth that have become crooked may be less effective at grinding food and may also be more vulnerable to breaking. The only way to correct this is through the use of orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign.

Next time that you go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, try not to do this purely out of habit but think about how effectively you are currently cleaning them and what you could do to improve things. Spending a little more time on your rear teeth especially will pay dividends over time, and reduce the likelihood of any treatment being needed to restore them.

Naturally, it is also important to see your dentist and hygienist every six months for a thorough check up and for a professional cleaning. If you would like to book your appointment with one of the dentists at the Cygnet Dental Practice, please do so by calling us on 01268 733078.