Dealing with Wisdom Teeth Problems

Wisdom tooth which are the third molars and the last teeth to erupt at the back of the mouth are normally associated with pain and aching gums. Most people between the ages of 15 and 25 complain about wisdom tooth problems, because they are the ones who are most often impacted.

Why impacted teeth cause problems?

Impacted teeth don't have enough room to emerge or develop normally hence they grow crookedly and damage the healthy secondary molars next to them by pushing against them. This causes the teeth to decay and become infected as they're hard to clean with your toothbrush.

This can cause bacteria to grow around the impacted tooth leading to gum disease. These bacteria can enter your bloodstream, adversely affecting your heart and other organs of your body.

Pain in the wisdom tooth may or may not resolve on its own, thus needing either active home management or treatment in a hospital through a dental surgery.

OTC (Over the Counter) Medical Treatments / Natural Home Remedies

Extracting the wisdom teeth can help resolve problems in the long-term. However, till the extractions are done, or even if you’re not planning on removing them, several over-the-counter medical treatments and natural home remedies are available to help manage the pain:

1. Ibuprofen - Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter pain relief medication that helps reduce inflammation of the gums and remove discomfort. Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are effective pain management solutions until you see a dentist for treatment.
2. Salt water rinsing – Salt water is known to contain natural disinfectant properties. Rinsing your mouth with salt water 3-4 times a day can help reduce the infection and kill the bacteria. Mix a tablespoon full of salt in a glass of water, boil it and cool it. While at warm temperature swirl it in your mouth and spit it out.
3. Ice Pack - Applying an ice pack to the jaw can help reduce inflammation and subsequently relieve pain. Using ice can also have a numbing effect. Holding an ice pack with a tea towel against your jaw for up to 15 minutes can reduce pain. The ice pack can be applied off and on with 15- minute breaks till you get some relief.

4. Numbing Gel - A numbing dental gel available over the counter may help reduce the pain and the sore feeling in the gums. The gel contains the active ingredient benzocaine. Most dental gels can be applied directly to the affected gums all through the day or as advised by your dentist. Some people may be allergic to benzocaine, so check with your dentist before use.
5. Clove – This spice is known to have a numbing effect on painful teeth and hence used as a topical pain reliever. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that ease inflammation and the pain. Keeping a clove or a cotton ball dipped in clove oil on the painful tooth, soothes the pain.
6. Tea Bags – are known to contain anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and are effective in reducing the swelling and fighting the infection. An iced tea bag placed on the infected tooth is very soothing and effective to relieve pain and irritated gums.

Wisdom tooth removal

The wisdom tooth is best extracted when it just erupts in your mouth rather than in the later years of your life. During the initial stages of the teeth eruption, the developing root is not so strong and so removal becomes a bit easy.

The tooth removal procedure takes anywhere from few minutes to up to 20 minutes at times. After the removal, after anesthesia wears off, the gums may be sore for up to three days.

Seek your dentist’s advice when your wisdom teeth are erupting or causing problems like gum disease, infections, abscesses and cysts.