While no less of an irritation, wisdom tooth pain can be quite a nuisance. These are teeth that erupt when we’re in our late teens and early twenties, which can sometimes be troublesome. However, the most common symptom would be pain – from relatively mild to very throbbing. In this article, we will talk about some simple and effective ways of easing the pain of the wisdom tooth when it hurts and when one should go to a dentist. Now let’s get started with easy methods of easing the pain.
Why Does Wisdom Tooth Pain Occur?
Well, let’s get to pain relief by understanding why wisdom teeth are a pain in the neck to begin with. Wisdom teeth are the last molars located at the back of your mouth. They don’t have enough space to grow, and often problems arise, such as the following:
- Impacted teeth: That means these wisdom teeth can become stuck under the gum or only partially break through, causing pain and swelling.
- Infection: Often, the food and bacteria are left stuck along the wisdom tooth and this causes infection.
- Pressure: When the wisdom teeth are coming through the gums, they may push out to one side against the next teeth causing pain.
Now that we know why it happens, let’s go and find some simple effective ways for wisdom tooth pain relief.
1. Over-the-Counter Pain Medications
The first thing that you can do is take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. These medications work to reduce inflammation and ease your pain, thus temporarily alleviating the discomfort caused by the wisdom tooth. Make sure to observe the recommended dosage to avoid taking too much and even causing other health problems.
2. Saltwater Rinse
A saltwater rinse is the best home remedy; people often turn to it when dealing with the pain of a wisdom tooth. This reduces bacteria and lessens the irritation within the gums. Here’s how you can do it:
- Mix one teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water.
- Swish around inside your mouth for about 30 seconds.
- Then spit it out and repeat this several times within the day.
The warm water helps on the inflammation, and the salt is an antibacterial agent, thus delivering fast relief from the pain.
3. Cold Compress
Another simple remedy for relief in the pain of the eruption of the wisdom tooth is a cold compress. It reduces inflammation and numbs the pain in the region. How to use a cold compress:
- Wrap ice in a clean cloth or take an ice pack.
- Apply to the outside of your cheek in an area where the pain is occurring for 15-20 minutes.
- Repeat as needed throughout the day.
This treatment also aids in keeping swelling at bay, in addition to relieving pain.
4. Clove Oil
Clove treatment has been passed down from thousands of years ago, where people used them to treat pain from a toothache. Eugenol is the extract from cloves and is considered a natural anesthetic as well as having some anti-inflammatory properties. You can apply a few drops of the oil on the gum beside the sore tooth.
- Soak a cotton ball in clove oil.
- Put it on the painful area of your mouth.
- Let it sit on the affected area for a few minutes then spit out water or rinse your mouth.
This remedy will be able to offer you fast relief in the throes of a raging wisdom tooth ache by giving you numbness and inflammation relief.
5. Peppermint Tea Bags
Peppermint is cooling and therefore can help ease pain and swelling. Once you have prepared your cup of peppermint tea, don’t toss that tea bag! Here’s what to do with it:
- Let the used tea bag cool down so that it feels only lukewarm or set it in the refrigerator until cool.
- Place the tea bag against the sore gum area for about 20 minutes.
Peppermint oil, cool to calm, is anti-inflammatory when soothing the pain of your wisdom tooth.
6. Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Another home remedy you can try. A hydrogen peroxide rinse kills bacteria, reduces infection around the wisdom teeth, minimizes pain and swelling. Here’s how you can apply it:
- Mix equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water.
- Swish the solution around in your mouth for about 30 seconds.
- Swallow it and then spit the solution out. Rinse your mouth with plain water afterwards.
Avoid swallowing the solution at all costs as hydrogen peroxide is not taken as an oral medication but rather used as a mouth rinse.
7. Do Not Chew on the Affected Side
Avoid pressing down on it if it hurts. Try to chew more on the other side so that you do not irritate that sore spot. Sometimes, it is just a little adjustment that could mean not irritating it much for the whole day.
8. Apply Numbing Gel
There are benzoic gels sold in pharmacies that contain benzocaine, a local anesthetic, which you simply apply to the painful gums around your wisdom tooth and then it relieves pain right away. It is very handy, especially if you cannot sleep because of the pain.
When to See a Dentist
Although these home remedies are sure to alleviate a temporary case, keep in mind that they are always temporary. In most cases, wisdom teeth have to be removed if they continue to cause recurring pain, infections, or other dental problems.
If you encounter any of the following, it is time to schedule a visit to a dentist:
- Pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medications.
- Swelling that spreads to your face or neck.
- Pain when opening the mouth or difficulty in swallowing.
- Fever, bad taste in the mouth, or some discharge that may contain pus.
Your dentist can assess your situation and may even advise that you may need your wisdom tooth to be taken out or even do something else to alleviate your pain.
Conclusion
Wisdom tooth pain is frustrating enough, but there are a lot of simple and effective ways to find relief. From saltwater rinses to over-the-counter medications, you have options to help ease the discomfort until you can see a dentist. Don’t forget that these are all temporary remedies and the pain may persist sometimes requiring professional treatment. By staying proactive and seeking the right care, you can find the wisdom tooth pain relief you need and get back to feeling comfortable in no time.