How to make a salt water rinse for wisdom teeth

#1: Gargle with Warm Salt Water

Far and away the best at-home remedy for any problem affecting your teeth and gums is rinsing your mouth out with warm salt water. Warm water soothes the area to ease pain, and the salt provides a natural cleanser to remove toxins.

To make a salt water solution, simply boil a cup or two of water and toss in a few tablespoons of salt. Once the water has cooled off to about room temperature, gargle and rinse — doing so should provide a nice soothing sensation around the third molars.

#2: Apply an Ice Pack

Your cheeks may swell if you have infected wisdom teeth. To reduce the puffiness and take away some of the pain as well, try the tried and true ice pack remedy. Wrap a bag of ice (or peas, beans, the frozen item of your choice) with a cloth to protect your facial skin and apply the pack to the affected cheek in 10 to 15-minute intervals (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off).

#3: Pick Up Some Peppermint

Peppermint doesn’t just smell nice, it also provides soothing relief for aching wisdom teeth. You can use both fresh peppermint leaves and peppermint extract to enjoy its therapeutic effects. If you are using leaves, apply some directly to the tooth and leave on for about 20 minutes. For extract, apply it using a Q-tip or cotton ball.

#4: Try Wheatgrass

Even if you hate the way it tastes, swishing some wheatgrass around your mouth will remove toxins that live inside the emerging third molar to help you find relief from wisdom tooth pain. Leave wheatgrass juice in your mouth for one to two minutes and then spit it out if you wish. You don’t have to drink to stuff to benefit from its soothing benefits on an aching third molar!

#5: Clove Remedy

People have been using clove to treat tooth pain for centuries, so there must be something to it. Using a whole clove or just the oil will provide the same effect. Simply place the clove on the affected tooth and don’t remove it until the pain is gone. Otherwise, rub the clove oil on the tooth to kill toxins and relieve pain.

#6: Even Onion Can Help

It may not sound all that pleasant, but you can use onion to relieve tooth pain (if you can stand the bitter taste). Cut an onion open and place it in the affected cheek. Leave it in your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes if you can, and don’t be afraid to bite down on it to release some of those good juices. After the time is up, you should notice significant relief from your aching wisdom tooth.

About the Authors

Dr. Steve Koo and Dr. Thomas Weil are the oral surgeons Houston trusts. To learn more about wisdom tooth extraction or to schedule a consultation for your own teeth removal, you are invited to contact Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at 713-783-5560.

Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so all these instructions may not apply. Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt, please follow these guidelines or call the office for clarification. We can be reached at (415) 397-1400.

AFTER-HOURS CONTACT

If you are having a problem after regular office hours and need to speak with Dr. Rayher, please call (415) 397-1400. Please follow the prompts or wait on the line and an operator will assist you. The operator will take your name and phone number that will be forwarded to Dr. Rayher. He will return your call. Please turn off any caller ID blocking.

When you visit an oral surgeon for a tooth extraction, you’ll get aftercare instructions. The surgical team will brief you on exactly what to do — and what not to do — for a smooth recovery.

One of the directions you may be given is to start using a saltwater rinse the day after your procedure. Oral surgeons frequently recommended this step, as it expedites the healing process.

But how does saltwater rinsing work? Are there other steps you can take to improve your post-tooth extraction care?

Why Saltwater Rinsing Helps

Using a saltwater rinse promotes proper healing, which helps speed up the tooth extraction recovery process.

After getting a tooth pulled, cleaning your mouth is more difficult. You can’t use a toothbrush at or near the extraction site until the area has healed — doing so could irritate the gum tissues. Saltwater rinsing acts as a substitute for brushing, keeping the socket clean.

In addition, rinsing with salt water creates an environment that’s hostile to dental bacteria. As a result, regular use helps prevent infection and other post-extraction complications.

How to Make & Use a Saltwater Rinse

Making a mouth rinse is incredibly easy — simply add about a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water, then stir until dissolved.

To use, lightly swish the solution around in your mouth for 30 seconds. Spit it out gently, taking care not to dislodge the blood clot that’s formed over the extraction site. Dislodging the clot could be painful, and it may lengthen the recovery process or lead to post-extraction complications.

Additional Tooth Extraction Aftercare Advice

After getting a tooth pulled, follow these steps to minimize your discomfort and speed up healing:

• Take your medicine regularly, as directed by your oral surgeon.
• Stick to drinking liquids — without a straw — and eating soft foods until you’ve healed.
• Rest and avoid heavy lifting for at least three days.
• Maintain good oral hygiene by rinsing with salt water up to four times per day and gently brushing teeth that aren’t near the extraction site.

Do you need a tooth extraction? For compassionate treatment from a highly skilled Salt Lake City area oral surgeon, schedule a consultation at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah.

Dr. Partridge and Dr. Maxfield are board-certified oral surgeons with over 10 years of experience serving patients in northern Utah — and both have the training and qualifications to complete simple and complex extractions with expert care. You can trust Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah to take good care of you, as our entire team is committed to giving every patient a safe and comfortable experience.

For more tips and information on tooth extraction aftercare or for a professional consultation, contact our Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan or Tooele office today.

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