Your third molars situated at the back of your mouth are also called your wisdom teeth. Typically, wisdom teeth “erupt” much later than your regular teeth, commonly between the ages of 17 and 25. If they hurt, it probably means that they are trying to come through, or are inflamed or infected.
When your wisdom teeth are erupting, your gums in this area can be red, inflamed, and tender to touch. You may also suffer from mild to moderate or severe pain when your wisdom teeth are erupting. There are several ways you can manage pain related to your wisdom teeth. Here are some of the ways…
1) Rinsing your mouth with salt water: This is one of the most popular remedies for a toothache. Rinsing your mouth with warm water with added salt kills harmful bacteria. This is important because wisdom teeth can sometimes affect other teeth or create cysts.
2) Applying Aloe Vera gel: Aloe Vera is nontoxic and can be applied to your wisdom teeth and surrounding gums to reduce inflammation. It can also be used to heal your gums if they become red, inflamed, or cut and scratched.
3) Apply crushed garlic and ginger paste: Garlic is a potent anti-bacterial agent that prevents and treats gum infection and inflammation. However, when combined with crushed ginger, it is even more effective.
4) Take an aspirin: This is a popular remedy, but you need to be careful that you do not take more aspirin than is recommended without the prescription of your doctor or dentist. Aspirin is an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory for people experiencing discomfort in their mouth.
5) Apply Clove Oil: Clove oil can help with residual soreness as well. Rinse the socket gently with warm salt water. Then, mix 5 drops of clove oil with a teaspoon of vegetable oil and drop it carefully into extraction site. Rinsing the socket too soon following the procedure could lead to a dry socket, however, so patients should call for further instructions before using this technique.
6) Apply crushed turmeric or turmeric powder to inflamed gums: While turmeric has been used effectively for stomach ache, it is also effective as a remedy for a toothache. You can rub crushed turmeric directly on your wisdom teeth and gums, or, you can rinse your mouth with water that has been boiled with turmeric and cloves.
7) Apply cold and heat therapy: You can either apply an ice pack or a heating pad to your cheeks to reduce the pain, inflammation, and swelling in your mouth due to wisdom teeth eruption. You can apply hot or cold treatments at intervals of 15 minutes. You can also alternate between hot and cold treatments but you should always end with a cold treatment.
8) Applying wheatgrass: The high chlorophyll content of wheatgrass makes it an effective remedy for inflammation and infection. It also prevents tooth decay and heals wounds.
These are just some of the in-home treatments that will help manage the pain due to your wisdom teeth. However, if you suffer from continuing pain due to your wisdom teeth, you should certainly consult your dentist and oral surgeon to ensure that you get expert advice as to how to deal with the pain and effectively address the proverbial “root of the problem.”
At the Harbour Pointe Oral Surgery & Advanced Dental Implant Center, we specialize in treating impacted wisdom teeth. We understand that poorly positioned, impacted wisdom teeth can cause significant problems. When a wisdom tooth has partially erupted, the opening around the tooth will allow bacteria to grow and could eventually result in an infection.
If you have painful or impacted wisdom teeth, you should visit Harbour Pointe. We will conduct a thorough oral examination of your mouth and take X-rays to evaluate the position of your wisdom teeth and help you decide the best course of action. If you have impacted or infected wisdom teeth, we may recommend their removal.
In most cases, we remove your wisdom teeth under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on what would work better for you. We will discuss the procedure as well as the surgical risk before surgery.
So, the next time you have pain due to your wisdom teeth that does not subside, visit Harbour Pointe for expert advice and treatment.
For more information about wisdom teeth and their possible removal, consult r. Brian Hart and Dr. Kathleen Isdith
at 425-353-1009 or at hporalsurgery@gmail.com or go to our website www.HarbourPointeOralSurgery.net
for more information.