Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars, found in the back of the mouth. The name refers to their appearance in early adulthood as opposed to childhood, when most permanent teeth emerge. These four teeth usually appear sometime after the age of 17, when a person has acquired some knowledge or wisdom; thus the name. Not everyone gets four wisdom teeth, and many wisdom teeth never erupt or break through the gums. The most common treatment for wisdom tooth pain is extraction of the teeth.
The fact that these teeth frequently partially erupt, not coming all the way into place in the tooth line, is one of the reasons they can cause pain. Infection can occur when food gets trapped between a partially erupted wisdom tooth and the gum. Wisdom tooth pain is also common as the teeth are erupting or breaking through the gums.
Wisdom teeth that are painful are often infected. Removing these teeth can alleviate the infection, and subsequently, the pain. Over-the-counter analgesics are common for treatment of wisdom tooth pain. Narcotic drugs, such as codeine, hydrocodine, and oxycodne, are also sometimes prescribed.
Many home remedies exist for wisdom tooth pain treatment. Chewing garlic or onions is thought to be good for teeth. Garlic is said to make teeth strong and healthy, while chewing an onion for three minutes has been clinically shown to alleviate germs in the mouth. Placing a piece of onion on a painful wisdom tooth, or the surrounding gum, is an way to manage wisdom tooth discomfort and can help lessen the pain.
Cloves have been shown to reduce tooth pain as well as help with infection. Clove oil can be applied to the painful wisdom tooth and surrounding gum area. This oil can also be mixed with garlic and rock salt and applied to the tooth, where it can be a very effective wisdom tooth pain home remedy. Clove oil can also be used with a pinch of pepper powder and one quarter teaspoon of rock salt to make a paste to be applied directly to the painful tooth or gum.
Wisdom tooth pain can also be eased with wheat grass juice used as a mouth wash. The juice from wheat grass draws out toxins in the mouth, slowing or prohibiting bacterial growth. This helps reduce infection and consequently reduces pain.
The gentle massaging of the cheek and the application of ice to the jaw can also help manage wisdom tooth pain. Application of ice directly to the painful wisdom tooth is not recommended. Extreme temperature, both hot and cold, can aggravate tooth pain.
A reflexology-based treatment for wisdom tooth pain suggests that applying ice to the webbing between the thumb and forefinger to numb the area will dull the nerve path leading to the tooth ache, thus relieving the pain. Relaxation and deep breathing are also recommended for wisdom tooth pain management.