How to stop wisdom tooth pain

What helps wisdom tooth pain at home

Cleveland Clinic's pericoronitis page lists the same simple measures as its toothache advice. They give short-term relief and do not fix the cause, so treat them as a bridge to an appointment.

• Warm salt water rinses three to four times a day. Healthline's food-in-the-socket page and Cleveland Clinic's toothache page describe about half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water, rinsed gently.
• An alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash twice a day, which Cleveland Clinic lists for pericoronitis.
• Over-the-counter pain relief such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, used as directed on the label.
• A wrapped ice pack on the cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, as Healthline suggests.
• Careful brushing and daily flossing so food and plaque do not collect around the tooth.

Why wisdom tooth pain happens

Healthline says healthy, correctly positioned wisdom teeth usually cause no pain. Pain typically comes from how the tooth erupts, such as partial eruption, impaction or misalignment, or from problems after removal. Cleveland Clinic says impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain or swelling in the jaw or face, and pain that radiates to the jaw, face and head.

A common cause is pericoronitis. Cleveland Clinic describes it as inflammation of the gum tissue around a partly erupted wisdom tooth, where food and bacteria collect under a gum flap and cause infection. It is more common around lower wisdom teeth.

How long does wisdom tooth pain last?

It depends on the cause. For pericoronitis, Cleveland Clinic says mild cases may last a few days and severe cases several weeks, and that with treatment it usually clears within a week or two. Pain from a tooth that is erupting may come in short episodes: Healthline says the pain of wisdom teeth coming in is usually mild and may start intermittent, with the gums hurting for a few days and then settling.

Pain that does not settle within a day or two is a reason to be seen. Cleveland Clinic advises calling a dentist for a toothache lasting longer than two days.

Why does wisdom tooth pain come and go?

Cleveland Clinic says chronic pericoronitis can cause mild, temporary aching near the back teeth, with bad breath and a bad taste, and that it can appear briefly while a wisdom tooth is erupting. A flap of gum can swell, settle and swell again as food and bacteria collect and are cleared. The page does not address pain that comes and goes in other situations, so a dentist should check any recurring pain.

Recurring flare-ups can be a reason for a dentist to discuss removing the gum flap or the tooth.

What a dentist can do

Cleveland Clinic lists professional cleaning to flush out debris and remove plaque and tartar, oral antibiotics for infection taken exactly as prescribed, prescription chlorhexidine mouthwash, which can cause temporary staining or taste changes, removal of the gum flap, often under local anesthesia in under an hour, and extraction if the tooth keeps causing problems. Cleveland Clinic says not everyone needs removal, and that if wisdom teeth cause no problems removal is often unnecessary.

Signs that wisdom tooth pain is serious

Cleveland Clinic lists acute symptoms of pericoronitis: fever, severe pain near the back teeth, red and swollen gums, pus, pain when swallowing, trouble opening the jaw, facial swelling and swollen neck lymph nodes. It says untreated infection can become an abscess, can spread to other parts of the body, and in severe cases can be life-threatening. Get urgent care for trouble breathing or swallowing.

Can wisdom teeth cause jaw pain?

Yes. Healthline says partial eruption, impaction and misalignment can cause jaw pain and stiffness. See our guides on wisdom teeth headaches and what wisdom tooth pain feels like for symptoms, and the jaw pain guide for other causes.

Frequently asked questions