The growth of a wisdom tooth is not pleasant at all: it pops up, puts pressure on the other teeth and pushes through the gums, often forcing them to do an extraction. All of these phenomena can be quite painful, and constant annoyance is known to prevent you from concentrating on anything else. However, there are several ways to relieve pain, whether the wisdom tooth has just erupted or has recently been removed.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Relieve Pain in the Early Stages
Step 1. Identify where the wisdom tooth is growing
Try to be aware of sore spots throughout the day. Be especially careful when brushing and chewing on the affected side, as this can cause inflammation or even an infection. If more than one tooth is growing on both the right and left, try to identify the most sensitive spots and treat them with care.
Do not touch or prick them with your tongue, otherwise you will exacerbate the sensitivity and swelling of the gums, risking an infection
Step 2. Brush your teeth regularly
It is important to prevent cavities or infections, especially as soon as wisdom teeth emerge. Since the gums can become sensitive or swell, we tend to avoid brushing the area, but we must maintain proper oral hygiene. Due to gum swelling and the growth of wisdom teeth, new cavities and cracks are formed, all of which are prone to bacterial overgrowth.
- Caries and periodontitis (or gum infection) will make the pain even more intolerable, extending the sensation of discomfort to the entire mouth.
- If you don't maintain good oral hygiene, hard-to-reach wisdom teeth could become infected or decay as soon as they finish erupting, which affects the need to remove them even more. Since they are the last teeth to grow, the enamel is less mineralized. In case of poor oral hygiene, cavities can form very easily and cause serious complications.
Step 3. Take anti-inflammatories
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and the like are effective for fighting pain caused by wisdom teeth, especially in the early stages. Take medicines always observing the leaflet and never exceed the indicated dosage. While it is effective, ibuprofen can also cause bleeding, so be sure to consult your doctor or dentist for what to do if you use it regularly.
Method 2 of 3: Dealing with an Impacted and Erupting Wisdom Tooth
Step 1. Use local anesthetics
Ointments and other products containing benzocaine are effective in numbing the area for a short period of time. Press a dry cloth to the affected area, then apply the anesthetic. The cloth makes absorption more efficient, without risking that the ointment is eliminated from the saliva. Although it is only a temporary remedy, it allows you to find quick relief in case of acute pain.
Keep in mind that the effect of topical anesthetics does not last more than an hour, as the saliva removes the ointment
Step 2. Use a mouthwash
Mix a cup of hot water and a teaspoon of salt, then let it dissolve. Gently shake in the oral cavity and spit. While not particularly effective at fighting the deeper pain typically associated with an impacted tooth (such as jaw discomfort), it relieves superficial swelling and soothes oral tissue, which is damaged when the tooth pokes or erupts through the gum.
Step 3. Try cloves or clove essential oil
It is a home remedy that helps relieve toothache. Apply the oil to the affected area using a cotton swab or cotton swab. You should feel a pleasant sensation of warmth and numbness. If you have cloves on hand, try placing one on the affected area, as long as its shape doesn't cause any discomfort.
Step 4. Use ice
If your tooth is not sensitive to cold, you can also try placing an ice cube wrapped with gauze on the affected area if it hurts. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes to numb the area, then remove it. Repeat as needed.
Step 5. See a dentist
If the tooth is infected, sprouting at an abnormal angle, does not have enough space to grow, pushes other teeth, causes damage to the jaw or other areas of the mouth, it is important to go to the dentist. In this case it may be necessary to extract it.
It is also possible that simply removing the gum flap covering it will make the pain go away within a day
Method 3 of 3: Relieve Pain Caused by Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Step 1. Rest after extraction
When done, try to go to sleep immediately. Then, rest for a day or two, as determined by your dentist or oral surgeon. Avoid doing strenuous activities for at least a week.
- If you have persistent bleeding on the day of surgery, keep your head and torso elevated with several pillows while you rest to avoid choking.
- Try not to sleep by resting your head on the extraction area, otherwise heat will be generated on the affected area.
Step 2. Take the painkillers prescribed or recommended by the oral surgeon following the instructions to the letter
If you are not prescribed any pain relievers, you can take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter medicine. If you have acute pain, call your doctor to consult about other options or dosages.
Step 3. Make an ice pack to control pain, swelling and bruising
The swelling peaks in the first two to three days following the surgery, but regular compresses immediately after the extraction helps to control it. Place an airtight bag filled with ice or a compress on the affected area. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then take it off for another 20 minutes.
Step 4. Watch for bleeding
This is one of the main annoyances following the surgery. Protect the affected area with gauze and change it regularly. Bite firmly to control the bleeding, but not so much that it feels painful.
- Hold the sterile gauze over the tooth by biting it at the extraction site.
- If the bleeding persists, try biting into a cold, damp tea bag. Tannic acid promotes coagulation.
- Avoid spitting or coughing excessively or forcefully, otherwise the clots will break down.
- If the bleeding lasts more than a day, call your dentist or surgeon.
Step 5. Eat warm, lukewarm foods
Go for creamy soups, smooth yogurts, puddings, smoothies, and other nutrient-rich, easy-to-eat foods. Avoid foods and drinks that are too hot or cold, but also smoothies or purees containing strawberries or other fruit with seeds, as they can get stuck in the wound cavities.
