Although you most probably don’t remember teething as a baby, the arrival of your wisdom teeth can remind you of what toddlers suffer through: tender gums, aching teeth and pain. Beyond making you more sympathetic to a teething baby, wisdom teeth discomfort can also cause some potential problems in your dental health.
Here are some home remedies for temporary pain relief before a wisdom tooth extraction:
1. Clove Oil
Clove oil
Clove may be the best-kept secret when it comes to relieving tooth pain. It is one of the only home remedies that packs a one-two punch. Clove oil contains a chemical called Eugenol, which acts as an anesthetic and antibacterial agent. Clove oil is anti-inflammatory and antifungal.
How to Apply Clove Oil to a Toothache
Take some clove oil and put it on a cotton ball or cotton swab and wipe directly on the gums immediately surrounding the tooth.
For some people, the flavor of clove oil is too strong. If you find this to be the case, mix it with a little bit of olive oil. This dilutes the clove oil, making it milder. Repeat this treatment several times per day on an as needed basis.
2. Onion
Onion
This is the remedy that is probably going to sound the strangest, but it might be one of the most reliable as well. Onions have already been used as a home remedy to relieve the pain and inflammation from arthritis. It only makes sense that you can use the same method for wisdom tooth pain.
Onion is effective because is contains phytochemicals that target the germs responsible for the infection, giving you a much-needed break from the pain.
The one thing that gives people pause about this remedy is the fact that you have to chew on a raw onion. Making this worse for many is the fact that the more pungent the onion is, the better the pain relief will be. Mild onions, like the sweet onion, will provide relief, but you’ll find a much better result using red or yellow onions.
At the first sign of pain in your tooth, cut off a piece of onion and chew it on the side of your mouth that is in pain. This allows the juice from the onion to penetrate your tooth. If you find that the pain is too intense to chew, you can use your finger to hold the piece of onion directly against the problematic tooth and gums.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is also known as an excellent pain reliever for wisdom teeth. Peppermint is very rich in anesthetic properties that will greatly reduce pain as well as remove bacteria in the mouth that caused the infection. On the plus side, peppermint has a natural fresh aroma, unlike other remedies.
There are 2 options of applying peppermint to your teeth. You can take fresh leaves and pack them into the affected area for at least 20 minutes and the pain should subside. The other option would be to take a few drops of peppermint extract and put it on a cotton swab applying it on your tooth. Leave it on your tooth for a few minutes and you should start to feel relieved from the pain.
4. Guava Leaves
Guava leaves
If you’re experiencing a lot of wisdom tooth pain, guava fruit will be your best friend. Guava leaves are great for pain relievers. The leaves from guava fruit contain anti-spasm properties. Guava leaves also have properties that are antibacterial and disinfecting qualities. Guava leaves can be applied by simply chewing them slowly in your mouth. The juices will then be released taking effect within minutes. The other option would be to take 5-7 leaves and boil them in a pot for about 5 minutes. Once the water cools down you can use the liquid as a mouthwash.
5. Tea Bags
Tea bag
If your wisdom tooth pain is the result of swollen gums around the infected area, tea bags are an excellent remedy. Tea is used in a lot of home remedies thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties found in tannic acid.
The most effective way to use tea bags to treat your pain is to brew a cup of tea and put the cup in the refrigerator, leaving the tea bag inside the cup. Once it’s nice and cold, take the bag and place it inside your mouth, directly over the hurting gum. This will help reduce the swelling and bring pain relief almost instantly.
6. Cucumber Slices
Cucumber
Cucumber slices can help bring relief to your wisdom tooth pain. They don’t have the same infection-fighting properties, but when your mouth hurts, they can work in a pinch.
Take a cucumber and cut into small slices. Completely rinse the cucumber and place the slices in the refrigerator. When your tooth begins to hurt, take one slice of cucumber and put it in your mouth directly on the infected tooth. The coolness from the cucumber will soothe the ache and take away the pain.
Consult with a dentist near you as soon as possible to discuss potential wisdom tooth extraction. All of the remedies listed here are meant to be temporary and will not completely cure the problem. Make an appointment with your dentist at the first sign of tooth pain.