If your wisdom teeth are impacted in your jaw, then your best bet is to have them surgically removed to avoid future complications. But how can you manage the aches and pains they cause while you're awaiting your surgical date? Here are a few remedies that may help.

Wash your mouth with salt water.

This treatment will be most helpful if your teeth are partially erupted, since it will soothe the gum tissue surrounding them. However, it will also help somewhat if your teeth are fully impacted (not erupted at all) since the salt sucks inflammation out of the tissues, reducing pressure on nerves and the resulting pain. Just stir a spoonful of salt into a cup of warm water (no need to be precise) and rinse your mouth gently. Repeat this treatment as often as you like throughout the day.

Ice your face with frozen veggies.

Icing your face can be hard since ice does not curve around your jaw well. Frozen bags of veggies solve this problem. Hold one against your sore jaw for between 20 and 30 minutes at a time. Place a thin cloth between your cheek and the veggies to protect against frostbite. The ice will help dull sensations of pain while also reducing inflammation. 

Apply clove oil.

If the pain is localized to a specific point on your gums or jaw, try applying some clove essential oil to the area. Clove oil is known for its ability to alleviate tooth-related pain and is regularly sold in most pharmacies and health food stores. Just apply a bit to the end of a cotton swab, and dab it on where you feel the pain. It won't taste great, but it will make you more comfortable.

Stick with soft foods.

Crunching away on hard foods may place more pressure on your jaw where the tooth is impacted, making your pain worse. So try to stick to softer foods until your surgical date arrives. Soft foods don't have to be boring! Plenty of tasty foods, like yogurt, macaroni and cheese, soup, rice, and fish require little chewing and are nutritious, too.

If the pain from your impacted wisdom teeth becomes too intense, you can also use an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the label to avoid complications and side effects. Check with your dentist (like Jeffrey S. Thaller DMD) to see how long before your surgery you need to stop taking the pain relievers.

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