Wisdom teeth often emerge during late adolescence or early adulthood, and their arrival is frequently accompanied by pain and discomfort. As the last molars to erupt, wisdom teeth may have difficulty pushing through the gums, leading to inflammation, infection, and damage to surrounding teeth and bone structures. Finding relief from wisdom tooth pain is key to making it through this uncomfortable life stage.
Read on to learn more about wisdom teeth pain causes and both temporary and permanent relief options. With the right remedies, you can minimize discomfort until your wisdom teeth fully emerge or are removed.
Home Remedies For Wisdom Teeth Pain Relief
Luckily there are many conservative at-home remedies and over-the-counter options to help alleviate wisdom teeth pain. Using warm compresses, salt water rinses, dental gels containing numbing agents, over-the-counter pain relievers, and even clove oil can reduce wisdom tooth pain and inflammation.
Trying these methods may provide sufficient relief to avoid extraction.
Saltwater rinses
Rinsing with warm salt water helps reduce infection and soothes inflamed gums.
Ice packs
Icing the area minimizes swelling and relieves tenderness.
Warm compresses
Alternate warm compresses with ice to stimulate blood flow and ease pain.
Clove oil
Clove oil offers antiseptic and numbing effects when applied topically.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen reduces pain and swelling.
Dental gel
Gels like Orajel contain benzocaine to numb wisdom teeth pain.
Proper oral hygiene
Gently brushing and flossing helps prevent infection and food buildup.
Soft foods diet
Sticking to smoothies, mashed potatoes, broths, etc. prevents discomfort while chewing.
Patience for the full eruption
In mild cases, the pain often subsides once teeth fully emerge.
These conservative at-home measures can temporarily relieve most wisdom tooth pain and are generally recommended before considering extraction. But speak with your dentist if symptoms persist or worsen.
Causes Of Wisdom Tooth Pain
Wisdom teeth pain often occurs when:
– Teeth begin erupting and pushing through the gums
– Infection forms in the gum tissue surrounding the teeth
– Teeth become impacted or stuck below the gums
– Damage occurs to nearby teeth, bone and nerves
These issues cause pain and inflammation ranging from mild to severe. Wisdom tooth extraction is sometimes required in cases of impaction, infection, or damage. But other options may relieve pain in milder cases.
Conclusion
Wisdom tooth pain is common but very treatable. Using proper oral hygiene, pain relievers, numbness treatments, diet adjustments and time can alleviate most symptoms until the teeth fully erupt or get extracted.
While wisdom tooth extraction is sometimes necessary, try conservative pain relief methods first, especially for mild cases with minimal swelling or infection. Monitor for worsening symptoms and follow up with your dentist. With the right remedies, wisdom teeth pain does not have to disrupt your oral health or daily life.
FAQs
Wisdom teeth pain usually lasts 1-2 weeks as the teeth erupt through the gums. Pain that persists longer may signal an impacted or infected tooth requiring extraction.
Over-the-counter benzocaine gels offer temporary numbness and pain relief for emerging wisdom teeth. For extreme pain, dentists can inject a local anesthetic to fully numb the area.
Inflammation and irritation caused by erupting wisdom teeth can fluctuate, causing pain that comes and goes. Infection also causes wisdom tooth pain to flare up intermittently.
Take over-the-counter medication before bed to get pain relief through the night. Sleeping upright and using ice can also minimize throbbing and discomfort.
Seek emergency care if you have severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing due to wisdom tooth complications. These require immediate treatment.
