We may not be able to comment on how much wisdom it actually brings, but we know for sure that a wisdom tooth comes up with a lot of pain. Apart from conventional painkillers, you can also go for several wisdom tooth pain relief options such as clove oil, ice pack, salt water gargle, toothpaste with baking soda, etc. Sometimes, you may have to get your wisdom tooth extracted to get relief from continuous pain.
Let us read about how the wisdom tooth pain can be managed naturally.
Why is wisdom pain different?
The wisdom tooth, or the third molars as they are called, are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth. They usually erupt from about eighteen to twenty-three years of age. However, they may erupt even later in some people. There are two teeth in each arch, at the ends, making it a total of four.
While pain is a common symptom during the eruption of most teeth, the pain associated with the eruption of the third molar is more intensified. Because, as children, we do not actually realize the teething pain during the eruption of teeth.
The entire process of eruption of the wisdom tooth is painful because the teeth erupt after all the other teeth in the arch have erupted.
It means that there is less space for the wisdom tooth to settle and during this process, they even may have to push through the gums to erupt in the mouth.
In short, wisdom teeth have to exert pressure on the surrounding tissues and thus cause pain. Due to this lack of space, the third molars are most commonly found tilted or angled, or half embedded into the bone. These are known as impacted teeth.
Symptoms
Pain is a very common complaint during the eruption of the third molars. Pain is experienced during the eruption of all other teeth as well, but it may be aggravated due to other factors.
Since the third molars are located so far behind in the mouth, it is difficult to clean them thoroughly with a toothbrush. This lack of accessibility increases the chances of tooth decay.
Similarly, even a dentist finds that area difficult to access and clean, because of which the decay in that region may spread to other adjacent second molars too. There may be foul smell from the mouth due to decay and improper brushing in the area.
As the teeth are trying to push through the gums to erupt in the jaw, one can notice inflammation of the gums in that area, redness, tenderness and sometimes even bleeding.
The pain from that region may radiate to other areas and is called referred pain. There may be referred pain in the ear on that side, in the opposite jaw, and the temple region.
Wisdom tooth pain relief options
There are some methods that can be employed to manage the pain and other symptoms. But it is very important to note that these are all temporary wisdom tooth pain relief options. Eventually, these teeth have to be extracted if they are giving you trouble time and again.
Painkillers are the most obvious method of pain management during the eruption of wisdom teeth until you can visit a dentist. Ibuprofen is an analgesic that is easily available, and reduces inflammation around the erupting tooth.
Here are some home remedies that you can use –
Salt water gargle
Adding a teaspoon or two of salt in slightly warm water, and rinsing the mouth with this solution is a home remedy that helps to disinfect the mouth and destroy bacteria around the wisdom tooth. This helps to reduce pain and inflammation.
Ice pack
The ice pack, when applied to the outer part corresponding to the area of the wisdom tooth, can reduce swelling and also provide a numbing sensation locally. Ice should be applied intermittently until pain reduces.
Tea bags
Tea bags are also an easily available home remedy. They are rich in tannins, which are anti-bacterial and hence they are effective in preventing infection in the area. A cup of tea with the tea bag should be left in the fridge. Once the tea bag is cold, you can place the tea bag in the mouth.
Clove oil
Clove oil, like ice, has a numbing effect and pain relieving effect. A whole clove can also be placed in the mouth for a while over the tooth giving pain. Similarly, a few drops of clove oil soaked in cotton can be left over the area for some time.
Onion
As bizarre as it sounds, chewing cut onions on the side of the tooth pain is an effective remedy since these also exhibit antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a popular remedy because of its aromatic properties in addition to the pain relieving, anti-bacterial and anesthetic properties.
A mixture of toothpaste and baking soda
A mixture of toothpaste and baking soda can also be applied over the tooth to relieve pain.
Do all wisdom teeth need the extraction?
Wisdom teeth require extraction only if they are causing pain, decay, infection or any other trouble to the surrounding tissues. It is wrongly believed that all wisdom teeth must be extracted.
Sometimes, only one or two of the four wisdom teeth may need extraction. Some people do not have wisdom teeth at all. Missing third molars are in fact are actually considered to be a sign of evolution, as their functional requirement is made redundant.
Extraction procedure
Removal of a wisdom tooth is a slightly different and complex procedure as compared to removal of other teeth. When the tooth is impacted, it is partially inside the bone which means that removal of the tooth requires removal of the bone over it.
Several cuts are made over the gums and the tooth may have to be broken into smaller pieces. The bone is then drilled to make a window for removing the roots.
After extraction, sutures are given over the area for about two to four weeks. During this time, the patient is given painkillers, antibiotics and advised saline gargles.
Over to you on wisdom tooth pain relief
It is said that tooth pain is a high-intensity pain, and wisdom tooth pain is even worse. Wisdom tooth pain relief options explained above are temporary in nature. But eventually, if the pain is continual in nature then the final solution is wisdom tooth extraction or removal.