Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal. The problem arises when there is not sufficient room in your mouth for further teeth. But, the wisdom tooth, in its desperate attempt to appear may start pushing your other teeth or stuck against them. It then grows at an uncomfortable angle under your gum, which is then called impacted wisdom tooth. This impacted wisdom tooth is what gives you pain, swelling and irritation. Bacteria may also grow around this impacted wisdom tooth and increase your pain and problems. What’s more irritating is that wisdom tooth pain, most of the time, occurs at night when you are fast asleep and suddenly you wake up due to throbbing unbearable pain in the mouth. So today we shall talk about treatments and home remedies for your wisdom tooth pain.
Home Remedies for Instant Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief
- Clove: When there were no commercially available anesthetics like Benzocaine, dentists used clove oil or clove gel for numbing the pain from wisdom tooth growth. Clove (Eugenia aromaticum), has anesthetic, antiseptic, analgesic and antibacterial properties, perfect for giving relief from horrible toothaches. All the properties of clove are due to its natural component eugenol. Eugenol is the active ingredient in most of the modern dental medicines too.
- Onion: If onion can relieve inflammation and joint pains due to arthritis, it can also be helpful in relieving swelling and pain due to a toothache. Onions have phytochemicals such as disulfides, trisulfides, cepaene, and vinyl dithiins, that have anticancer and antimicrobial properties and thus can kill the germs causing infection in your mouth and give you relief from pain. Shallots, yellow and red onions are more effective than the white and sweet onions when it comes to pain relief and other disease-fighting qualities.
- Asafetida: With its nutrient-rich composition due to various minerals and vitamins, asafetida has long been used by Ayurveda to cure a variety of diseases and medical conditions including toothaches. Asafetida is a resinous gum having a pungent smell and is commonly used as a flavoring agent in cooking all over the Indian subcontinent and Central Asian region. This resin, among other natural chemicals, contains asaresinotennol, free or combined with ferulic acid and umbelliferone. Ferulic acid has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties while umbelliferone is antiseptic. All these constituents of asafetida make it a good remedy for toothaches, including wisdom tooth pain.
- Ice: If the wisdom tooth pain is the result of swelling, applying an ice pack may be able to help. Simply use a commercial ice pack or put some ice is a plastic baggie, wrap it in a towel and apply it to the swollen area. Not only will this relieve some of the pain, but it will also help the inflammation go down.
- Guava: If you’re experiencing a lot of wisdom tooth pain, guava leaves will be your best friend. They are excellent pain relievers. Guava leaves have a bioflavinoid, Quercetin, which has anti-spasm properties. The high content of Quercetin in guava leaves lends them the excellent pain killing properties. These leaves have many properties that include astringent, antibacterial, pain blocking, and disinfecting qualities. They can also cure bleeding gums bad breath.
- Warm Salt Water Rinse: This remedy is often recommended by dentists themselves as a stop gap until your appointment. Not only is it one of the most effective ways to relieve your wisdom tooth pain, it is also one of the easiest. All you have to do is pour about eight ounces of warm water into a glass and stir in two tablespoons of salt until it’s completely dissolved. Rinse with the water for several minutes, or as long as you can stand the salty taste, and then spit it out. Repeat the process every few hours and you’ll begin experiencing pain relief.
- Garlic: Garlic has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can go a long way in relieving pain. Thiacremonone is one of the sulfur compounds present in garlic. It inhibits inflammatory responses in a body which may be helpful in treating inflammatory diseases. Antioxidants present in garlic also helps reduce swelling and in turn giving relief from pain.
- Vanilla Extract: Most people use vanilla extract for cooking and baking but most don’t know that it can also with wisdom tooth pain. Vanilla extract is very rich in antioxidants, it also helps with numbing the gums around the affected area. The procedure is very easy and should take effect within minutes. All you need to do is put some of the extract on your finger tip and rub it on the affected tooth. You can also take a cotton ball and soak it in vanilla extract, then rub it on the area or leave it in your mouth for a few minutes.
- Peppermint: The strong aromatic herb peppermint is one of the oldest remedies for a toothache, just like clove. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and has mild anesthetic properties too. You may use peppermint tea or peppermint oil to get relief from your wisdom tooth pain.
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree leaves as well as oil had been used by the Aborigines to cure various infections due to its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. This essential oil also has a mild anesthetic effect. Which can numb your aching area.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Once it has been determined that a wisdom tooth is problematic, extraction by an oral surgeon or qualified general dentist is usually indicated. Local anesthesia is administered to ensure the tooth can be pulled out without any major discomfort. Many people will choose conscious sedation (being put into a sleepy state where pain signals are blocked) so they have little or no memory of having the wisdom teeth extracted. A minor surgery is then performed where the tissue and bone around the wisdom tooth are removed so that the tooth can be cleanly extracted from the socket. Several stitches may be needed to close the surgical site and promote healing of the overlying tissue. These stitches may either be dissolvable stitches that come out on their own after three to five days or stitches that need to be removed by the surgeon after a certain period of time.
After having your wisdom teeth removed, the speed of your recovery depends on the degree of difficulty of the extraction (a simple extraction of a fully erupted tooth versus a tooth impacted into the jawbone). In general, here’s what to expect.
During the first 24 hours
- Bleeding
- Facial swelling
- Pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil)
- Liquid diet
- Continue to brush your teeth gently
After 24 hours
- Facial swelling
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- Stitches
- Watch for signs of dry socket
- Complete healing within the first week or two
The cost of the procedure is often dependent on whether the tooth is impacted or not and can range from about $100 to $600 dollars per tooth. The cost can increase if sedation is needed or requested. Also, check with both your dental insurance carrier and medical insurance provider. One or the other type of insurance may cover a portion of the cost of wisdom teeth removal.
Wisdom tooth pain should not be taken lightly. While at-home pain management is an option for some patients, in most cases wisdom tooth extraction is the best way to alleviate wisdom tooth pain and protect your oral and overall health and well-being. As always, your dentist will be able to evaluate your specific health needs and help you decide on the best option.
Posted on May 18, 2023