Emerging wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Most people are either directed or choose, to have these teeth removed but what can you do up until that point? The problem with wisdom teeth is that they emerge when the rest of our mouths are fully-formed, and all other teeth are present. That means there is no room for the wisdom teeth, and the teeth have to force their way out, which causes the pain and discomfort.
Luckily, there are some things you can do until you reach the day where the teeth are finally pulled out.
Reducing Wisdom Teeth Pain At Home
- Over-The-Counter Pain Relief: Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories can assist in reducing the inflammation around the gums that causes the pain and irritation. Make sure you only take the amount recommended on the package and keep in mind that these shouldn’t be taken over an extended period of time. It’s best to turn to this method a couple of days before your surgery, and even after the surgery.
- Numbing Gel: Anyone that has ever had children, or perhaps a baby sibling, will be familiar with numbing gel. You can pick up this gel at chemists and it is applied to directly to the gum. These gels have benzocaine as the active ingredient and, as the name suggests, it numbs the gum to relieve the pain and discomfort. As with all medications, use only as recommended and check for allergies.
- Ice: Ice is a natural numbing agent that also reduces inflammation. You can pick up ice packs from a chemist or supermarket, or make your own at home by placing ice in a tea towel and holding it on the affected area. The best way to ice the gum is to hold it on for 15-minutes at a time.
- Cold Tea Bags: The tannins in tea are thought to have both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which makes tea bags perfect for fighting off infection and reducing swelling. To create this home remedy, make a cup of herbal tea and place it in the fridge with the teabag in. Once it is cold, take the tea bag out and apply it to the gums. The most important thing is to make sure it is completely cold, even the slightest bit of heat could cause further irritation and inflammation.
- Onion: Onion has also been posited as a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The best way to use onions as a home remedy is to cut off a slice and chew it raw on the side where the pain is felt. All you have to do is keep chewing until you have reached the desired effect. The chewing releases the juice from the onion, so they can soak into the gum and relieve the pressure while killing any bacteria. A strong union breath is your only negative side effect!!
- Cloves: Cloves have a numbing effect on the gums. To use cloves, just place one over the area that feels painful and hold it there until the numbing effect begins to work. You can also use cloves in conjunction with olive oil, by allowing the clove to infuse in the oil before using a cotton swab to apply the solution to the gum. This can only be done for a very short time as the cloves will eventually cause a soft tissue burn
- Saline Solution: Rinsing with salt water is a fantastic remedy for a number of oral problems, including ulcers. It is perfect for emerging wisdom teeth because the saline solution will disinfect the area. Often, the build-up of bacteria around the broken gums can actually be the root of the pain, so when the bacteria is cleared, the pain disappears.
To make the solution, just put a few teaspoons of sea salt into boiled water. Once it has cooled, swish it around the mouth and spit it out. This can be repeated several times a day, or until the pain has reduced.
- Maintain Oral Hygiene: Even though your gums may feel tender, it’s still vital that you brush and floss daily. If you don’t maintain your oral health regime, more bacteria will build up, the inflammation will get worse, and the pain will increase.
- Monitor Your Diet: You need to limit sugary and acidic foods at all times, but this is especially important while your wisdom teeth are emerging. Sweet foods promote bacteria, and the sugar can even become stuck inside the broken gums and lead to gum disease. Acidic foods can lead to even further break down of the gum tissue.
Follow these tips, and the emergence of your wisdom teeth doesn’t have to be characterized by pain, frustration and sleepless nights. Of course, the most important thing to do is visit your dentist so they can work out the best treatment option for you.
If you have any questions related to wisdom tooth pain, reach out to our dentists in Camberwell.