Wisdom Teeth Pain

Impacted wisdom teeth may cause pain, aches, and tenderness. Ultimately, removing the wisdom teeth can help resolve these problems.

In the meantime, there are several over-the-counter medical treatments and natural home remedies available.

• Below are some at home tips that may help alleviate the wisdom teeth pain while awaiting removal from a dentist.
• Over-the-counter Ibuprofen for wisdom teeth pain.
• Apply an Ice Pack.
• Use over-the-counter Numbing Gel.
• Saltwater Swish and Rinse.
• Clove Oil/ Clove Buds.
• Make an Essential Oils and Vanilla Extract Soak or Rinse.

Recovery after a wisdom tooth extraction may vary and be relative to each person. Some people may experience discomfort longer than others. Other symptoms following the surgery may include swelling in the mouth and cheeks, mild visible bruising, stiff or sore jaw, and numbness or tingling in the mouth. The healing process may be similar to the following timeline:

• In the first 24 hours, blood clots should develop around the area of the extraction. This provides a protective layer over the exposed bone and nerve endings, as well as a foundation for new soft tissue to develop.
• In the 2-3 days following the procedure, you may notice a decrease in swelling in the mouth and cheeks.
• If your procedure required stitches, your dentist will remove these in 10-14 days.
• After two weeks, all bruising should fade, and you should be feeling back to normal.

Discomfort following a wisdom tooth extraction typically lasts from 2-7 days, but most patients are back to their normal routines in just 2-3 days.

If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may be wondering if you are experiencing wisdom teeth pain. As the wisdom teeth come in, they can be very painful. How can you recognize this unique pain?

• You'll feel wisdom teeth pain at the back of your mouth, behind your molars.
• If you look into a mirror, you may even notice that your wisdom teeth have begun to poke through your gums.
• The area might also be red, enflamed and tender to the touch.
• Some people, however, don’t have any visible symptoms of wisdom teeth pain.

Oral pain can also have a number of other causes. They can include tooth decay, fracture or abscess, a broken or damaged filling, nightly teeth grinding, and gum infection. No matter what the cause though, you should still see your dentist when you experience oral pain.

After you have your wisdom teeth removed, you may have:

• Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed.
• Bleeding that won't stop for about 24 hours.
• Problems or pain when you try to open your jaw. This is called trismus.
• Slow-healing gums.
• Damage to dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth.
• Dry socket, which causes pain and swelling and occurs when the blood clot that protects the open tooth socket is lost too soon.
• Numbness (freezing) in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off or because of an injury or swelling to the nerves in your jaw. Numbness usually goes away. But in rare cases, it may not.
• An opening into your sinus cavity if a wisdom tooth is removed from the upper jaw.

There is a small risk of death or other problems whenever a general anesthetic is used. The decision to have your wisdom teeth removed if they're not impacted has to be weighed against the risks and benefits of having them removed.

If you don't have your wisdom teeth removed, a partially erupted wisdom tooth can lead to bacterial infection called pericoronitis. Meanwhile, a wisdom tooth that doesn't erupt can lead to the development of a cyst which can damage bone and gum tissue. Wisdom teeth are also often removed because they come in crooked.