Ear pain is a common discomfort and can be due to a lot of reasons; however, if it started right after your wisdom teeth arrived, the two could be connected. Wisdom teeth are the last to emerge in your mouth and hence have the least space to grow in. That is why they often grow impacted, causing a wide range of problems. One of the complications is wisdom teeth infection that comes into the light with ear pain as a sign of its presence.
Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Ear Pain?
The nerves that go through the wisdom teeth also serve your ears; this means that an infected wisdom tooth can cause severe ear pain. At the time of infection, swelling and inflammation in the surrounding tissue of the gums are common, which puts pressure on the nearby nerves and consequent pain radiating to the ear.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If your ear discomfort is getting worse and you suspect that your wisdom teeth are to blame, there are a few other symptoms that you will observe. These include:
- Pain or discomfort in the back of the mouth, especially when you eat food.
- Swelling or tenderness in the gums around your wisdom teeth.
- Difficulty in fully opening your mouth.
- Bad breath.
- Bad taste in your mouth
- Headaches or jaw pain.
5 Ways To Get Relief From Ear Pain Due to Wisdom Teeth
Here are 5 ways you can manage to get relief from your earache.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers OTC meds such as ibuprofen greatly have positive effects in reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
- Saltwater rinse It is no less than a holy grail for your oral cavity. Rinse your mouth with a lukewarm saltwater solution to bring down gum inflammation and kill bacteria as well.
- Ice pack Ice works wonders to soothe flaming gum tissues. Apply it to the affected area for ear pain relief.
- Soft foods Dietary modification is a must. Eating soft foods like yogurt, soup, and applesauce exerts less pressure on your temple and jaw, which means less pain.
- Good oral hygiene Maintaining a good oral hygiene regime is crucial to prevent infections and reducing the risk of complications. Brush and floss your teeth every day; plus, use a mouthwash to kill bacteria in your mouth.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
In some circumstances, when there is no choice, your dentist may pull out your wisdom teeth to alleviate the symptoms of infection and pain.
You may think that extraction is going to be painful, but guess what? It is a pain-free procedure because your dentist will use local anesthetics to numb the entire area before removing your tooth. On the plus side, you will get to have lots of ice cream during recovery; what a sweet relief!
Final Note
If your pain is getting unbearable and you want an out, get in touch with our dental care experts from Pearland Family Dentistry to know your options – Dial (832) 649-7344 to connect with us right away.