Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSaltwater RinseCold and Heat TherapyHerbal RemediesMedicationsWhat Causes Wisdom Tooth PainOther CausesWisdom Teeth ExtractionWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Saltwater Rinse
Cold and Heat Therapy
Herbal Remedies
Medications
What Causes Wisdom Tooth Pain
Other Causes
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
When to Seek Medical Care
Home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications like Advil (ibuprofen) can deliver relief from wisdom tooth pain. There are also medical treatments for severe pain affectingwisdom teeth, the third molars farthest back in the mouth.
It’s important to seek dental care even with symptom relief from at-home remedies. Many people undergowisdom teeth removalbecause of pain or tooth crowding, typically between the ages of 17 and 25.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Valentina Stankovic/ Getty Images
1. Saltwater Rinse
To make a saltwater rinse, mix a teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Rinse the solution in your mouth for up to 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat several times a day.
A Word From VerywellSaltwater rinse works especially well if the teeth in question are partially in and the gums around the tooth are inflamed. Consider adding anti-inflammatory OTC pain medication, such as ibuprofen, for comfort.—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Saltwater rinse works especially well if the teeth in question are partially in and the gums around the tooth are inflamed. Consider adding anti-inflammatory OTC pain medication, such as ibuprofen, for comfort.—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Saltwater rinse works especially well if the teeth in question are partially in and the gums around the tooth are inflamed. Consider adding anti-inflammatory OTC pain medication, such as ibuprofen, for comfort.
—BRIAN T. LUONG, DMD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
2. Cold and Heat Therapy
Applying cold and heat may bring relief from wisdom tooth pain.You can apply cold and warm compresses on the outside of your mouth, over your cheek, or under your jaw, depending on the source of the pain.
Cold therapy reduces pain, blood flow to the area, and swelling. This may temporarily relieve wisdom tooth pain. Hold anice pack(covered with a cloth) to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Peppermint
Peppermintis used for a variety of things, including dental care.It has antibacterial properties and may help to ward off infection. Some studies note its analgesic (pain relief) benefits, though more research is needed.
Make apeppermint teaand swish it around in your mouth for wisdom tooth pain. You can also place the steeped tea bag over your sore tooth or gums for a few minutes.
Menthol is a main essential oil in peppermint leaves. It is used as a flavoring and cooling agent in many dental products. It also has analgesic properties.You may be able to find OTC products for tooth pain that contain menthol. Check with a healthcare provider on using menthol.
4. Clove Oil
Clove oilis used in traditional medicine for toothaches. The chemicaleugenolin cloves may help relieve the pain.Clove essential oil applied topically may temporarily ease wisdom tooth pain. However, it can also cause irritation and gum damage.Talk to a healthcare provider for guidance before trying this remedy.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe verais great for the skin—including the skin in the mouth.Aloe may help treat the wound if your mouth is sore around the erupting teeth. Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory, which may also help reduce swelling and pain. Some people apply aloe vera tooth gel to their affected teeth, but it’s best to discuss this with a healthcare provider first.
A 2023 review of studies that assess the use of herbal remedies in oral health and dental care found that aloe vera (along with chamomile) were the most commonly used products.
6. Garlic
7. Ginger
Though not directly related to wisdom tooth pain, some research foundgingerpowder effectively relieves oral pain after some procedures. In one study, dried ginger powder was as effective as ibuprofen in controlling pain after open flap debridement, a periodontal (gum) procedure to clean under the gums.
8. Turmeric
The curcumin inturmericis anti-inflammatory, which is why it may help with pain. Researchers have found that roasted ground turmeric can relieve dental pain and swelling and shows promise in dental care.
9. Oregano Oil
You should never ingest essential oils. Talk to a healthcare provider about the best way to use oregano oil for wisdom-tooth-related pain.
10. Capsaicin
Capsaicinis a chemical compound found in chili peppers. It is commonly applied to the skin for pain relief.You can find oral rinses that have capsaicin as an ingredient.
11. Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is anonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It decreases pain and reducesinflammation, which makes it an excellent choice for wisdom tooth pain.
NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, can cause side effects like gastrointestinal problems. They can also interfere with some medications, like blood thinners, some antidepressants, and high blood pressure medication.Talk with a healthcare provider to see if ibuprofen is best for your tooth pain.
12. Aspirin
Aspirinis another NSAID. However, unlike ibuprofen, aspirin has antiplatelet effects, making it a good choice for people who have heart conditions or are at risk of having a stroke.
Aspirin is not a good choice for children because of the risk ofReye’s syndrome, a condition that causes swelling in the brain and liver.
13. Acetaminophen
Tylenol (acetaminophen)is good for reducing pain and fevers. However, it is not an anti-inflammatory, like NSAIDs, so it will not help with pain associated with swelling. Tylenol is approved for use in children according to weight and dosage.
14. Benzocaine
Orajel (benzocaine) is an OTC topical numbing medication. Though this may seem like a good first-line option, experts issued a warning about serious and potentially fatal blood disorders associated with the product.Do not allow children to take it, and seek medical advice before taking it yourself.
15. Acupuncture
Acupunctureis a complementary medical practice that some people use for pain relief. A 2023 review of 25 studies found that acupuncture shows promise in treating dental pain but more study is needed.
When a wisdom tooth is coming in, you may experience symptoms like pain, crowding, and infection. Causes of wisdom tooth pain include:
Impacted Wisdom TeethWisdom teethextractionis the most common surgery performed on U.S. adolescents and young adults, with more than 80% of people undergoing the procedure before age 25.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teethextractionis the most common surgery performed on U.S. adolescents and young adults, with more than 80% of people undergoing the procedure before age 25.
Other Causes of Mouth Pain
Wisdom tooth pain isn’t the only cause of pain in the back of the mouth. Other causes include:
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom tooth pain usually does not go away without extraction, though it can resolve in some cases. Many people will find that they need their wisdom teeth removed.
After your wisdom teeth are extracted, it’s important to follow your oral surgeon’s directions.Oral surgery recoveryoften includes the following:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Alternatively, if you have a dentist, call their after-hours line. A dentist can also prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to address pain until they can see you.
Summary
You can manage wisdom tooth pain in many ways, including at-home therapies, OTC medications, and prescription medicine. Most people require wisdom teeth extraction, which ultimately resolves their pain. In the meantime, a dentist can help you come up with ways to manage the pain.
26 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Renton T, Wilson NHF.Problems with erupting wisdom teeth: signs, symptoms, and management.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(649):e606-e608. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X686509Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, et al.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healingin vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843International Journal of Dental Clinics.Heat or Ice for Toothache: Which is the Best Remedy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice pack vs. warm compresses for pain.Gawish AS, ElMofty MS, Jambi S, Felemban D, Ragheb YS, Elsayed SA.Phytotherapy in periodontics as an effective and sustainable supplemental treatment: a narrative review.J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2024 Aug;54(4):209-223. doi:10.5051/jpis.2301420071Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066Pandey VK, Shams R, Singh R, et al.A comprehensive review on clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) essential oil and its significance in the formulation of edible coatings for potential food applications.Front Nutr. 2022;9:987674. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.987674MedlinePlus.Clove.Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A.The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: a systematic review.Iran J Med Sci.2019 Jan;44(1):1–9.Amanpour S, Akbari Javar M, Sarhadinejad Z, Doustmohammadi M, Moghadari M, Sarhadynejad Z.A systematic review of medicinal plants and herbal products' effectiveness in oral health and dental cure with health promotion approach.J Educ Health Promot. 2023 Sep 29;12:306. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1297_22Sasi M, Kumar S, Kumar M, et al,et al.Garlic (Allium sativumL.) bioactives and its role in alleviating oral pathologies.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 21;10(11):1847. doi:10.3390/antiox10111847Menon P, Perayil J, Fenol A, et al.Effectiveness of ginger on pain following periodontal surgery — a randomized cross-over clinical trial.J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(1):65-69. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2020.05.003Umapathy VR, Swamikannu B, Jones S, et al.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on oral health.Bioinformation. 2022;18(6):538-542. doi:10.6026/97320630018538Hosny K, Asfour H, Rizg W, et al.Formulation, optimization, and evaluation of oregano oil nanoemulsions for the treatment of infections due to oral microbiota.Int J Nanomedicine. 2021;16:5465-5478. doi:10.2147/IJN.S325625MedlinePlus.Capsicum.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.Soodi D, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.Aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events.Clin Med Res. 2020;18(2-3):89-94.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Risk of serious and potentially fatal blood disorder prompts FDA action on oral over-the-counter benzocaine products used for teething and mouth pain and prescription local anesthetics.Müller M, Schmucker C, Naumann J, et al.Acupuncture in management of acute dental pain — a systematic review and meta-analysis.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:114-128. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.005American Dental Association.Wisdom teeth.Schroeder AR, Newman TB, Girod S, et al.Estimated cumulative incidence of wisdom tooth extractions in privately insured U.S. patients.FrontDentMed. 2022; 3:937165. doi:10.3389/fdmed.2022.937165American Association of Endodontists.Tooth pain.American Dental Association.Extractions.American Dental Association.What constitutes a dental emergency?
26 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Renton T, Wilson NHF.Problems with erupting wisdom teeth: signs, symptoms, and management.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(649):e606-e608. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X686509Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, et al.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healingin vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843International Journal of Dental Clinics.Heat or Ice for Toothache: Which is the Best Remedy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice pack vs. warm compresses for pain.Gawish AS, ElMofty MS, Jambi S, Felemban D, Ragheb YS, Elsayed SA.Phytotherapy in periodontics as an effective and sustainable supplemental treatment: a narrative review.J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2024 Aug;54(4):209-223. doi:10.5051/jpis.2301420071Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066Pandey VK, Shams R, Singh R, et al.A comprehensive review on clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) essential oil and its significance in the formulation of edible coatings for potential food applications.Front Nutr. 2022;9:987674. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.987674MedlinePlus.Clove.Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A.The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: a systematic review.Iran J Med Sci.2019 Jan;44(1):1–9.Amanpour S, Akbari Javar M, Sarhadinejad Z, Doustmohammadi M, Moghadari M, Sarhadynejad Z.A systematic review of medicinal plants and herbal products' effectiveness in oral health and dental cure with health promotion approach.J Educ Health Promot. 2023 Sep 29;12:306. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1297_22Sasi M, Kumar S, Kumar M, et al,et al.Garlic (Allium sativumL.) bioactives and its role in alleviating oral pathologies.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 21;10(11):1847. doi:10.3390/antiox10111847Menon P, Perayil J, Fenol A, et al.Effectiveness of ginger on pain following periodontal surgery — a randomized cross-over clinical trial.J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(1):65-69. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2020.05.003Umapathy VR, Swamikannu B, Jones S, et al.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on oral health.Bioinformation. 2022;18(6):538-542. doi:10.6026/97320630018538Hosny K, Asfour H, Rizg W, et al.Formulation, optimization, and evaluation of oregano oil nanoemulsions for the treatment of infections due to oral microbiota.Int J Nanomedicine. 2021;16:5465-5478. doi:10.2147/IJN.S325625MedlinePlus.Capsicum.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.Soodi D, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.Aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events.Clin Med Res. 2020;18(2-3):89-94.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Risk of serious and potentially fatal blood disorder prompts FDA action on oral over-the-counter benzocaine products used for teething and mouth pain and prescription local anesthetics.Müller M, Schmucker C, Naumann J, et al.Acupuncture in management of acute dental pain — a systematic review and meta-analysis.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:114-128. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.005American Dental Association.Wisdom teeth.Schroeder AR, Newman TB, Girod S, et al.Estimated cumulative incidence of wisdom tooth extractions in privately insured U.S. patients.FrontDentMed. 2022; 3:937165. doi:10.3389/fdmed.2022.937165American Association of Endodontists.Tooth pain.American Dental Association.Extractions.American Dental Association.What constitutes a dental emergency?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Renton T, Wilson NHF.Problems with erupting wisdom teeth: signs, symptoms, and management.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(649):e606-e608. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X686509Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, et al.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healingin vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843International Journal of Dental Clinics.Heat or Ice for Toothache: Which is the Best Remedy?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice pack vs. warm compresses for pain.Gawish AS, ElMofty MS, Jambi S, Felemban D, Ragheb YS, Elsayed SA.Phytotherapy in periodontics as an effective and sustainable supplemental treatment: a narrative review.J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2024 Aug;54(4):209-223. doi:10.5051/jpis.2301420071Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066Pandey VK, Shams R, Singh R, et al.A comprehensive review on clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) essential oil and its significance in the formulation of edible coatings for potential food applications.Front Nutr. 2022;9:987674. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.987674MedlinePlus.Clove.Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A.The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: a systematic review.Iran J Med Sci.2019 Jan;44(1):1–9.Amanpour S, Akbari Javar M, Sarhadinejad Z, Doustmohammadi M, Moghadari M, Sarhadynejad Z.A systematic review of medicinal plants and herbal products' effectiveness in oral health and dental cure with health promotion approach.J Educ Health Promot. 2023 Sep 29;12:306. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1297_22Sasi M, Kumar S, Kumar M, et al,et al.Garlic (Allium sativumL.) bioactives and its role in alleviating oral pathologies.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 21;10(11):1847. doi:10.3390/antiox10111847Menon P, Perayil J, Fenol A, et al.Effectiveness of ginger on pain following periodontal surgery — a randomized cross-over clinical trial.J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(1):65-69. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2020.05.003Umapathy VR, Swamikannu B, Jones S, et al.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on oral health.Bioinformation. 2022;18(6):538-542. doi:10.6026/97320630018538Hosny K, Asfour H, Rizg W, et al.Formulation, optimization, and evaluation of oregano oil nanoemulsions for the treatment of infections due to oral microbiota.Int J Nanomedicine. 2021;16:5465-5478. doi:10.2147/IJN.S325625MedlinePlus.Capsicum.Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.Soodi D, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.Aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events.Clin Med Res. 2020;18(2-3):89-94.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Risk of serious and potentially fatal blood disorder prompts FDA action on oral over-the-counter benzocaine products used for teething and mouth pain and prescription local anesthetics.Müller M, Schmucker C, Naumann J, et al.Acupuncture in management of acute dental pain — a systematic review and meta-analysis.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:114-128. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.005American Dental Association.Wisdom teeth.Schroeder AR, Newman TB, Girod S, et al.Estimated cumulative incidence of wisdom tooth extractions in privately insured U.S. patients.FrontDentMed. 2022; 3:937165. doi:10.3389/fdmed.2022.937165American Association of Endodontists.Tooth pain.American Dental Association.Extractions.American Dental Association.What constitutes a dental emergency?
Renton T, Wilson NHF.Problems with erupting wisdom teeth: signs, symptoms, and management.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(649):e606-e608. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X686509
Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, et al.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healingin vitro.PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843
International Journal of Dental Clinics.Heat or Ice for Toothache: Which is the Best Remedy?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ice pack vs. warm compresses for pain.
Gawish AS, ElMofty MS, Jambi S, Felemban D, Ragheb YS, Elsayed SA.Phytotherapy in periodontics as an effective and sustainable supplemental treatment: a narrative review.J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2024 Aug;54(4):209-223. doi:10.5051/jpis.2301420071
Kumarswamy A.Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: a novel herbal dental gel.Contemp Clin Dent. 2016;7(2):131-139. doi:10.4103/0976-237X.183066
Pandey VK, Shams R, Singh R, et al.A comprehensive review on clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) essential oil and its significance in the formulation of edible coatings for potential food applications.Front Nutr. 2022;9:987674. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.987674
MedlinePlus.Clove.
Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A.The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: a systematic review.Iran J Med Sci.2019 Jan;44(1):1–9.
Amanpour S, Akbari Javar M, Sarhadinejad Z, Doustmohammadi M, Moghadari M, Sarhadynejad Z.A systematic review of medicinal plants and herbal products' effectiveness in oral health and dental cure with health promotion approach.J Educ Health Promot. 2023 Sep 29;12:306. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1297_22
Sasi M, Kumar S, Kumar M, et al,et al.Garlic (Allium sativumL.) bioactives and its role in alleviating oral pathologies.Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 21;10(11):1847. doi:10.3390/antiox10111847
Menon P, Perayil J, Fenol A, et al.Effectiveness of ginger on pain following periodontal surgery — a randomized cross-over clinical trial.J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(1):65-69. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2020.05.003
Umapathy VR, Swamikannu B, Jones S, et al.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on oral health.Bioinformation. 2022;18(6):538-542. doi:10.6026/97320630018538
Hosny K, Asfour H, Rizg W, et al.Formulation, optimization, and evaluation of oregano oil nanoemulsions for the treatment of infections due to oral microbiota.Int J Nanomedicine. 2021;16:5465-5478. doi:10.2147/IJN.S325625
MedlinePlus.Capsicum.
Arthritis Foundation.NSAIDs.
Soodi D, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.Aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events.Clin Med Res. 2020;18(2-3):89-94.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Risk of serious and potentially fatal blood disorder prompts FDA action on oral over-the-counter benzocaine products used for teething and mouth pain and prescription local anesthetics.
Müller M, Schmucker C, Naumann J, et al.Acupuncture in management of acute dental pain — a systematic review and meta-analysis.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:114-128. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.005
American Dental Association.Wisdom teeth.
Schroeder AR, Newman TB, Girod S, et al.Estimated cumulative incidence of wisdom tooth extractions in privately insured U.S. patients.FrontDentMed. 2022; 3:937165. doi:10.3389/fdmed.2022.937165
American Association of Endodontists.Tooth pain.
American Dental Association.Extractions.
American Dental Association.What constitutes a dental emergency?
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