Dental TipWisdom Tooth Pain Tips
Wisdom Tooth Pain Tips
- This is usually caused when the wisdom tooth is partly through the gum and very often when the tooth is wedged against the tooth in front of it. The gum partly over the tooth becomes infected and will often become swollen and very painful. If allowed to continue infected it can lead to reduced opening of the jaw.
- The best thing to do in this situation is to keep it very clean with your toothbrush. It will be sore but just keep brushing it to remove the bacteria that build up on it. Also use hot salt water mouthwashes. A cup of hot water, as hot as you can comfortably take and a teaspoon of salt in it. Take a mouthful and hold it over the area. It will soothe and cleanse the area. Do this repeatedly as often as you can.
- Take any necessary pain relief – either Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. If the area becomes swollen, you can feel the glands enlarged under your jaw or you have restricted movement of your jaw you will need to have some antibiotics prescribed. If this is the case please contact the practice on 01293 782772 and you will be directed to your dentist.
Please be aware that the antibiotics you are likely to be prescribed you cannot drink any alcohol with.
A Little Reminder
Lastly a little reminder of a few things that will make the coming weeks kinder on your teeth and gums:
- Make sure you brush twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Ensure you don’t rinse out the toothpaste after brushing as it has much more of a beneficial effect if it is left on the teeth
- Clean in between your teeth EVERY day with either floss, TePes or other cleaning aids that you have been shown by your dentist or hygienist
- Reduce sugar intake in food or drink to just 4 times a day. Your teeth should be able to cope with that. Any more frequent and your risk of developing tooth decay increases dramatically. If you allow tooth decay to develop, it can lead to problems including toothache! The effect of any sugary food and drink on your teeth lasts for up to an hour so be careful and look out for hidden sugars
- Bleeding from your mouth when you brush your teeth is usually because your gums are inflamed – you need to try and determine where the bleeding is coming from and clean more in that area not less.
We hope that you find these tips helpful. Let’s hope that you don’t need to use any of them. If you do, don’t forget that we are on the other end of the phone to give you further advice on 01293 782772 where you will be directed to your dentist for a telephone consultation.
