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Home Remedies for Combating Wisdom Teeth Pain

Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars. They emerge in your late teens or your early twenties. When they come in, though, it often hurts, just like it did when you got your first set of teeth as a baby. You may even have headaches, your gums might swell, or have pain in nearby teeth.

Unless your dentist decides that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted, you'll need a way to cope with your second round of teething pain.

Of course, if your pain is severe, call your dentist right away. Often severe pain is a sign that you are having trouble. The teeth may be impacted or they may be coming in at the wrong angle. In that case, your dentist may need to extract them. For less-severe pain, though, there are a variety of options you can choose for relief.

Ice Packs: When you overdo it at the gym and develop a strain, you apply an ice pack to ease the pain and swelling. You may not have known, though, that you can also use an ice pack to relieve wisdom tooth pain.

Salt Water: This tried and true remedy has another benefit: it kills germs that may cause infection. Dissolve some salt in hot water, and then rinse, just like you do with your mouthwash. You'll feel immediate relief from the swelling and pain.

OTC Pain Relievers: You can also get quick relief by taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol. Advil and Motrin also relieve the swelling, although they may cause gastrointestinal irritation in sensitive individuals.

Onion Juice: Cut an onion in half. Place it on the inner cheek of your sore tooth. Whenever you feel a twinge of pain, bite into the onion to extract the juice. The juice not only relieves the pain, but it also kills harmful germs.

Whiskey: If you're over 21, try this: Sip a shot of whiskey, but don't swallow it. Just swirl it around in your mouth for a minute or so. You'll feel instant relief. If you drink alcohol, you can swallow it for more pain relief. Just don't overdo it. Overuse of alcohol can cause serious health problems.

Cloves: Another proven home remedy, clove oil also has pain-relieving properties. Either dab your sore gums with the oil, or place a whole clove on the sore tooth. Squeeze the clove to release the oils onto your gums.

If you need more information about how to deal with wisdom tooth pain, call your dentist today.