Have you ever wondered why babies cry so much?
Well mainly it’s because they’re naked, confused and constantly sitting in their own number two…
But sometimes it’s because their teeth are coming through. And actually, this can be a surprisingly painful process. This is something that becomes all-too clear once your wisdom teeth start to break through. When this begins, you can expect to suffer through tender gums, aching teeth and general discomfort.
What to Expect
Wisdom teeth – the third molars – usually begin to emerge between the ages of 17 and 21 but they can actually come through at pretty much any age. And if you’re really lucky, your wisdom teeth may not come through at all! This can be for a number of reasons – for instance if your wisdom teeth are sideways inside your jaw, then they won’t be likely to emerge at any point and a number of other things can actually cause them to become trapped. Either way, until your wisdom teeth haven’t come through yet, that means that they’re lying in wait inside your jaw!
When they do come through, this is actually caused ‘eruption’. This is when things get painful and uncomfortable as they break through the skin. And it gets worse if they grow at the wrong angle in which case they can push all your other teeth and potentially ruin your straight, white gnashers! Potentially, wisdom teeth can also lead to a number of complications and these can include infections and cysts.
Treating the Pain
So when this happens, what can you do to treat the pain? There are a number of different options that may help, so read on to find out which ones are worth looking into.
Home Made Mouth Rinse
One option is to create a mouth rinse and to use this yourself. Simply mix a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt and swill in the mouth. The warm water should be soothing and saline solutions like this are very good at preventing an infection in any open wound.
This isn’t going to make the pain go away entirely but it’s certainly good for you and may help to make the pain a little easier to tolerate.
Analgesics
Of course any normal painkiller can be helpful for treating gum pain. These include Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Aspirin. Just make sure that you don’t exceed the recommended dose. If you find you’re in a lot of pain then consider taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen together. These work differently, so you can use them at the same time and stagger your dosage.
Benzocaine
Benzocaine is a numbing agent that can be applied directly to the gums at the affected area. Put a little on your fingertip and rub into the gums around the wisdom teeth very gently. This is one of the more effective forms of pain relief available.
Clove Oil
If you enjoy home remedies and natural alternatives to painkillers, then cloves and clove oil come recommended by many experts. Clove oil is purported to have a number of benefits including antimicrobial and antibacterial which may make it helpful for preventing infection. What’s more is that clove oil is analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Some dentists will even use clove oil as an anaesthetic! The good news is that you may already have some cloves in your cupboard and if not, you can pick them up at the grocers very cheaply.
Warm Compress
Another option is to try pressing a warm compress to your face which can also be soothing. Don’t push too hard or use anything too hot but instead hold a rice sock or heat pack gently against your jaw when the pain is most pronounced.
And as always, if the pain persists then make sure to visit your dentist or your doctor.