Are you experiencing pain and swelling that comes along with the arrival of your wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, generally surface during the late teenage to early adult years and can cause some real discomfort. We’ve listed some at-home pain remedies that can help alleviate some of the trouble that comes along with cutting new teeth, such as tender gums, and aching or throbbing pain.
Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
This one is probably pretty obvious and it’s not an at-home remedy, but it still should be mentioned. Most people will have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent future complications. By going to your regularly scheduled dentist visits, you should know early enough in advance if wisdom tooth extraction is necessary and have the procedure scheduled before any discomfort sets in.
Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center specializes in this type of extraction. With locations in Green Bay, Marinette and Niagara we are one of the leading oral surgery centers in Green Bay, North East Wisconsin and surrounding areas. Schedule your consultation today!
Warm Salt Water Rinse
One of the easiest and most effective ways to ease wisdom tooth pain is by rinsing your mouth with the following: take one cup of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of salt and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Swish this mixture in your mouth for about a minute before spitting it out. Repeat as necessary throughout the day.
This mouth rinse will also soothe other mouth sores, heal sore throats, freshen breath, and loosen and remove food.
Ice Pack
If you are having swelling use an icepack to help alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation. No ice pack? No problem! Putting ice cubes in a ziplock bag and covering it with a light towel will work just as well.
Benzocaine Topical Oral Pain Relief Products
Benzocaine products can be found at most pharmacies and can be helpful in numbing and dulling the pain to allow you to get through prolonged periods. Dry the area with a cloth before applying the gel or liquid to get the best results. Note: Benzocaine is not recommended for babies and children under 2.
Ibuprofen / Painkillers
Other pain relieving medications may also be helpful, but ibuprofen, being an anti-inflammatory analgesic, is usually most effective because the pain is likely caused by swelling.
Natural Pain Relief From Your Kitchen
There are a handful of other remedies out there that can be found right in your own kitchen. They include; clove, garlic, guava leaves, onions, cucumbers, tea, peppermint, vanilla extract and baking soda. We will expand on these natural remedies and how they work in a follow-up post. For now, the most common of these is Clove.
Clove is suggested by most as a wives-tale, but Clove may actually be one of the best kept secrets when relieving tooth pain. Not only does it numb the pain, it also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can help prevent an infection. Either use clove oil by dabbing on the area with a cotton ball, or place a whole clove (do not smash or cut) directly on the spot causing irritation until you start to experience a numbing sensation.
We hope you’re able to find some relief with one or some of these at-home remedies. If you are experiencing tooth pain but not sure if it could be wisdom tooth related – visit your dentist for a consultation, or contact Bay Oral Surgery today to schedule your wisdom teeth extraction.