Painful wisdom teeth can be difficult to deal with. Besides the obvious pain when eating, these molars can cause other unpleasant sensations. They may become impacted, which means they don’t have enough room to come in without interfering with adjacent teeth. This is a common problem especially in people with smaller jaws and narrower spaces. Some people experience constant pain or soreness that is hard to manage. Whether you need emergency help or just want a more home-based treatment for painful molars, it helps to know your options. In this article, you will learn more about how to pull a wisdom tooth at home without pain, as well as tips on when and how to do so safely.
How To Pull A Wisdom Tooth At Home Without Pain?
While this is often easier said than done, there are some steps you can take to make the process less painful.
- Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods for a few days before the extraction, as this may cause more bleeding.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for at least a few days before the extraction, as these can also increase your risk of complications.
- Make sure you have eaten enough fiber and are hydrated, as this can help reduce discomfort.
- Take mild pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. Be sure to read the directions and talk to your dentist before taking any medications.
- Try to relax as much as possible before and during the procedure.
- Ask your dentist for a mild sedative or nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) to help you relax.
Check Your OTC Options
There are several over-the-counter medications you can use to numb the area before attempting to pull the tooth, or to reduce inflammation after. These include:
- Ibuprofen: This will help with swelling and pain. Make sure you take the correct dosage and follow the instructions carefully.
- Acetaminophen: Not as effective as ibuprofen, but still a good option.
- Codeine: This is a strong medication and should be used only for extreme cases. You’ll need a prescription for this one
- Dental Orals: These are specially formulated for addressing toothaches, and can be found at most drugstores.
- Dentinox: Another good choice for toothache pain.
- Sodium Saccharin: This is another over-the-counter option that is not too effective.
Ice It
This is a great way to reduce swelling and ease the pain of a swollen wisdom tooth.
- Make an ice pack using crushed ice or even a bag of frozen vegetables.
- Hold the ice pack on the gum above your wisdom tooth for 10-15 minutes every 2 hours, or as often as possible. If your swelling is severe, try elevating your head while resting so that the swelling goes down.
- You can even try using a thin pillow between your knees to lift your head. If you have a headache as a result of your swollen gum or tooth, try ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce the pain.
- Avoid aspirin, as this can make the swelling even worse.
Try a Tylenol Paste
This is a great option for kids or those who are particularly sensitive to medications.
- Mix the correct dosage of Tylenol powder with a little water to form a paste.
- Apply to the gum above the wisdom tooth and leave it in place for several hours.
- This is a good option if you need something in place quickly and don’t have time to get to a pharmacy for a prescription.
- Be careful not to get the mixture in your mouth, though. If you’re worried about the amount of Tylenol your child is taking, consider a Tylenol liquid or syrup.
Boil Water And Bleach
Some people swear by this method, saying that it numbs the gum and tooth enough to make pulling the tooth easier.
- Boil water and add a teaspoon of bleach. Dab the gum above your tooth with a clean cotton ball, and then use the water to rinse out the tooth.
- Repeat this process 4 times over the course of a couple of hours. While this method has been used for years, the actual effectiveness is still up for debate.
- Some people find it works great, while others find it doesn’t numb the area enough.
Use A Tooth Extractor Or Hook Tool
If you’re feeling confident and think you can remove the tooth yourself, a tooth extractor or hook is a good option. These tools are specially designed to pull teeth, so they’re much stronger than your average pair of tweezers.
- First, apply warm water with oxyclean or baking soda to the tooth to soften it.
- Then, place the extractor or hook over the tooth, and wiggle it back and forth to break the tooth loose. Be careful not to tug too hard or you could break your gum, too.
- It’s also important to have steady hands, so make sure you have a clear head before attempting to do this.
Grab A Hair Dryer Or Vibrating Toothbrush
If you’re feeling particularly inventive, you might want to try this method.
- Place an ordinary toothbrush near the tooth and turn on a hair dryer.
- The vibrations from the hair dryer will cause the bristles to vibrate, which should cause enough irritation to cause the tooth to loosen.
- This is another method that people swear by, and that some dentists even use in their practice.
Ask For Help From A Professional Dentist
If none of these home methods work, or if you’re concerned that you’re missing something in your attempts, it’s always a good idea to see a professional dentist.
- You can find a dentist near you using the ADA website, or by using the Zocdoc app.
- You can go to the dentist and ask them to help you remove the wisdom tooth without surgery or pain.
- They will use one of the methods listed above or might suggest something else. Your dentist should be able to help you figure out which method is best for you and your situation.
Why Is Pulling A Wisdom Tooth Often Painful?
As you get older, you are more likely to develop tooth decay.
This can happen with any tooth in your mouth, but is more common in the molars.
- When you have tooth decay, you may get an infection in the surrounding soft tissue, which is called an infection.
- Wisdom teeth are often right next to the bone in your jaw.
- They can take a long time to grow in and come in misaligned, which can make it more difficult to clean around them.
- When they don’t come in properly, it can make the bone below shrink.
- This makes the bone next to the wisdom teeth weak and more likely to break when you pull.
Pulling A Wisdom Tooth With Anesthesia
- If you’re particularly nervous about the procedure, you can ask your dentist to use local anesthesia or other types of sedatives.
- If you are expecting a relatively quick procedure, a mild sedative may also be an option. If you already have an impacted tooth, you may want to get it removed as quickly as possible.
- If you don’t have any other tooth in the way, you can definitely just go ahead and get the wisdom tooth out.
- However, if there are other teeth in the way, it’s generally recommended that you wait until the wisdom tooth has broken through the gum line.
Wound Care After Your Wisdom Tooth Is Out
Most people can resume their normal diet and regular brushing after the procedure. However, there are some things you should avoid.
- Avoiding these things will help your wound heal faster and with less discomfort.
- Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods for a few days after the procedure.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for at least a few days after the procedure.These can increase your risk of complications.
- Make sure you have eaten enough fiber and are hydrated.
- Taking a few days off from intense exercise can also be helpful.
Conclusion
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in, usually when you are about 17 or 18 years old. While most people have room for these teeth, others have teeth that are crowded and don’t have enough space. Because wisdom teeth are in the very back of the mouth, they can be difficult to clean. They are also more likely to get infected than other teeth, which is why they are often removed. If you don’t have room for your wisdom teeth, they can be removed. This can be done quickly and is usually not very painful.