Pulling wisdom teeth can improve long-term taste function, research finds
Patients who had their wisdom teeth extracted had improved tasting abilities decades after having the surgery, according to a new study.
Patients who had their wisdom teeth extracted had improved tasting abilities decades after having the surgery, a new Penn Medicine study published in the journal Chemical Senses found. The findings challenge the notion that removal of wisdom teeth, known as third molars, only has the potential for negative effects on taste, and represent one of the first studies to analyze the long-term effects of extraction on taste.
"Prior studies have only pointed to adverse effects on taste after extraction and it has been generally believed that those effects dissipate over time," said senior author Richard L. Doty, PhD, director of the Smell and Taste Center at the University of Pennsylvania. "This new study shows us that taste function can actually slightly improve between the time patients have surgery and up to 20 years later. It's a surprising but fascinating finding that deserves further investigation to better understand why it's enhanced and what it may mean clinically."
Doty and co-author Dane Kim, a third-year student in the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, evaluated data from 1,255 patients who had undergone a chemosensory evaluation at Penn's Smell and Taste Center over the course of 20 years. Among that group, 891 patients had received third molar extractions and 364 had not.
The "whole-mouth identification" test incorporates five different concentrations of sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, and caffeine. Each solution is sipped, swished in the mouth, and then spit out. Subjects then indicate whether the solution tastes sweet, salty, sour, or bitter.
The extraction group outperformed the control group for each of the four tastes, and in all cases, women outperformed men. The study suggests, for the first time, that people who have received extractions in the distant past experience, on average, an enhancement (typically a three to 10 percent improvement) in their ability to taste.
"The study strongly suggests that extraction of the third molar has a positive long-term, albeit subtle, effect on the function of the lingual taste pathways of some people," Kim said.
Two possibilities, the authors said, could explain the enhancement. First, extraction damage to the nerves that innervate the taste buds on the front of the mouth can release inhibition on nerves that supply the taste buds at the rear of the mouth, increasing whole-mouth sensitivity. Second, hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury from a surgery like an extraction has been well documented in other contexts. There is evidence, for example, from animal studies that repetitive light touch, which might occur during chewing, gradually accentuates neural responses from irritated tissue that can lead to progressive long-term tactile hypersensitivity. Whether this occurs for taste, however, is not known.
"Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism or mechanisms behind the extraction-related improvement in taste function," Doty said. "The effects are subtle but may provide insight into how long-term improvement in neural function can result from altering the environment in which nerves propagate."
The study was supported in part by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (PO1 DC 00161).
Wisdom Teeth
With age comes wisdom. Specifically, wisdom teeth.
Your mouth goes through many changes in your lifetime. One major dental milestone that usually takes place between the ages of 17 and 21 is the appearance of your third molars. Historically, these teeth have been called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age.
Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of the mouth. They do not all need removal. The decision depends on their position, health, effect on neighboring teeth, and whether they can be cleaned and monitored.
What does an impacted wisdom tooth mean?
An impacted tooth has not fully emerged into a usable position. Examination and appropriate imaging help show its position and relationship to surrounding structures. Some teeth cause few noticeable symptoms, so discomfort alone is not the whole assessment.
When might a wisdom tooth need removal?
Reasons can include decay that cannot reasonably be restored, repeated infection, damage to a neighboring tooth, gum disease, or a cyst. Treatment planning may also affect the decision. Discuss the expected benefit, alternatives, risks, and recovery with the clinician who will perform the procedure.
Can I keep healthy wisdom teeth?
Sometimes. Teeth that remain need cleaning and ongoing monitoring. Ask how to reach the area with your brush and interdental cleaner, and mention food trapping, swelling, or difficulty opening your mouth. A dental examination can help distinguish a wisdom-tooth problem from other causes of pain.
Should taste changes determine whether I remove a wisdom tooth?
A report about taste after extraction does not establish that removal is needed for you. The practical decision should focus on the tooth's health, the examination findings, and the benefits and risks of your proposed treatment. Tell your clinician about existing taste changes, numbness, or concerns before deciding.
What symptoms should prompt a call?
Call for increasing pain, swelling, or trouble opening your mouth. Rapidly spreading facial or neck swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or other severe symptoms need urgent medical attention. Our emergency dental-care page explains how to contact the office about a dental problem.
Discuss wisdom teeth in Jacksonville
At CJ Henley, DMD on Hendricks Avenue near San Marco, an examination can help identify the problem and appropriate next steps, including referral when needed. Bring recent dental imaging if available. Contact our office to discuss your concerns.
Further reading: American Dental Association: Wisdom teeth.
Updated October 1, 2026.