Dental Extraction Pain
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Dental Extraction Pain Remedies

| Modified on Nov 06, 2023
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 Following a tooth extraction or oral surgery, significant pain is not uncommon. Natural remedies for pain following a dental extraction can bring a surprising amount of pain relief, without the risk of side effects from prescription pain medication. Home remedies for pain relief include clove oil, black tea bags, and the supplement bromelain.

Before considering any natural remedies, make sure they are compatible with your doctor’s recommendations! Each person is unique and each surgery is different. Additionally, you to consider any specific directions your doctor has given you for your individual situation. For example, oil pulling may not be compatible with many oral surgeries because of risk of “pulling” our the healing scabs in your mouth, or causing damage to stitches. If you have had significant bleeding or are on blood thinners, bromelain may not be suitable for your situation as it has blood thinning properties.

Clove Oil

Cloves have antiseptic and numbing properties. Clove essential oil is a concentrated form of cloves. Using a clean cotton bud clove oil is dabbed onto the areas of pain. This remedy is often used every few hours as needed for pain.

Tea Bags

Old fashioned black tea bags have been used for decades for their healing, astringent, and pain relieving properties. Simply moisten a tea bag and hold gently in your mouth at the site(s) of extraction. Using tea bags several times a day on the first day can often prevent swelling and promote healing.

Bromelain

Bromelain, derived from pineapple, is an anti-inflammatory supplement. Some find that it works as well as pain medication when taken every few hours.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial herb. Taken regularly it can keep inflammation at bay, reduce the risk of infection and help with pain.

Used for pain relief, usually 2 capsules are taken every four hours, and always with a full glass of water to prevent constipation.

Salt Water Rinse

Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water to gently rinse your mouth every few hours. This is usually not recommended for day of surgery recovery but on the first and second day after recovery.

Ice

Ice packs held on the outside of your face can reduce pain and inflammation. Fill a few socks with rice and tie them on the ends. Freeze these rice socks. They made a very comfortable ice pack as they are soft and conform to your face.

Stay Hydrated

You may be sleeping more following surgery, especially if you are taking prescription pain medication, which can make it harder to keep up your fluid intake. Mild to moderate dehydration can increase pain. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of liquids (water and herbal tea are ideal.) These fluids will help to flush out the anesthesia you have been given as well.

Avoid Straws

Unless you are told you should be using straws, they are usually contraindicated after oral surgery because they can interfere with healing.

Avoid Extreme Food Temperatures

Hot foods are usually not recommended in the first few days following surgery. Allow foods that are served hot to cool a bit first. Heat can increase pain and also circulation, which may increase bleeding.

Very cold foods may irritate exposed nerves.

Eat Soft Healing Foods

Give your body soft nutritious foods during recovery. Chips, pretzels, and other crunchy foods can disturb the healing sites and must be avoided until healing is complete.

Soft Healing Foods to Enjoy:

  • Applesauce
  • Yogurt (avoid yogurts with fruits that have seeds)
  • Soft mashed potatoes
  • Mashed avocado
  • Mashed banana
  • Homemade jello
  • Homemade broth
  • Creamy soups
  • Soft scrambled eggs
  • Pudding
  • Soft macaroni and cheese
  • Smoothies (don't use a straw)
  • Oatmeal

Rest

Your body is recovering from a stressful event. It will heal faster if you allow it to rest. Follow your doctor’s instructions about when you may return to work or school. This is a great time to catch up on books or movies you wish to enjoy.

Prescription Pain Medication Cautions

You may find that using natural remedies will help so much with pain that prescription pain medications are not needed. If you do not need prescription pain medications, don’t use them. They are strong and have high addiction risks. Many people have uncomfortable side effects from them including poor sleep and constipation.

Do you have a natural remedy for pain following oral surgery? Please send us some feedback!

Keep reading to see how our readers have dealt with post-surgical pain.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Acupuncture

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Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 10/30/2012
 ★★★★★

Quite a few years ago, at this point, I was really having problems with this same thing. Believe it or not, it was my acupuncturist who fixed that issue. I would never have put this together but he explained that tooth sensitivity is related to stomach issues. He needled me for this and it took care of this! Now, when my teeth feel strange or are sensitive, I know it has more to do with my stomach than my teeth. I eat calming foods and never drink cold drinks as cold puts out the digestive fire and causes havoc in the stomach.

Hope this helps, Lisa

Replied by Lal
(Australia)
03/03/2016
★★★★★

I think good Acupuncturists are greatly underestimated.

7 years ago, I had all my upper teeth removed. Recently, I had my lower teeth removed, but I was feeling severe pain in my upper gum, which I thought were 'sympathy' pains.

I saw an incredible Acupuncturist for a viral infection and just mentioned my 'no teeth' and the pain. She told me that it had to do with my Kidney Meridian. No more pain after the treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by Lynda (Coffs Harbour) on 09/11/2016
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Cider Apple Vinegar worked for my dental extraction pain. 1 tspn in a glass of luke warm water, swish gently. It reduced the swelling and inflammation. Follow dentist advice for the first 24- 48 hours. To ensure clotting has taken place Then mouth wash twice a day. Any pain and swelling return to the dentist.

Replied by Leanne
(Sydney)
09/21/2016

Hi Lynda, Just reading your comment re apple cider vinegar and tooth extraction. I need a root canal but have decided to have it out instead and for some reason I am really scared about it (probable goes back to my childhood and my fear of dentists). Can you give me an indication of how it was. I've had two root canals and they were fine but this has me terrified.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gardengirl (Gallatin, Tn. Usa) on 03/17/2013
 ★★★★★

2 weeks ago, I had a wisdom tooth pulled, it would hurt and in that area it would feel hot. I started off putting minced garlic in the area and it stopped the pain, but 1 week later it still felt hot and too much garlic was making the gum raw. Thank-you for the vinegar idea, it worked and after about 3 days it is healing, no more hot spot. I mix about 2 teaspoons in a glass of water and swish it in that area... 3 times a day.... Feels great now!!!

Arnica

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Posted by Rw (Bluefield, Va) on 08/12/2016
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When my daughter got all four wisdom teeth pulled in the same day, I gave her homeopathic Arnica 200c just before the procedure, shortly after the procedure and every few hours during the first day, and as needed the few days after. She never needed any pain meds even though we had gotten the prescription filled just in case. She never had any swelling or bruising. Homeopathy (it's not herbs) causes the body to heal faster and eliminates or decreases symptoms in the meantime if you choose the right remedy for your situation.

The homeopathic remedy, Ruta, is effective for pain resulting from braces or the visits where they adjust the braces. You can get the remedies on Amazon or any site where homeopathic medicines are sold. There are several different brands.

Avoid Implantation

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Posted by Andy (New York City, Ny) on 02/08/2012
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Back in 1995, I had an awful pus on my gum that was painful, yet it was killing my tooth as well. To kill the pain, I washed my mouth with Listerine mouthwash, then I used a sharp pin as used in tailors. The pin was cleaned with rubbing alcohol, then I pushed the pin into the area of the pus and then pulled out the pin. Next, I squeezed the pus out from opposite side of the gum where the pus was sitting. This forced the pus to come out of the hole that was made by the pin. All of the infection then was gone.

Next, make an appointment to the dentist. According to the dentist, I had to get a root canal job done on that tooth. The root canal job only lasted less than one year. The following year, I had the root canal removed (very bloody procedure)!

As I completely had the next tooth became a bridge job. As to the root canal jobs, it is not worth the expense of pulling out the root canal if the tooth is so old and about to crack into pieces or has been drilled so many times, that it would soon fall apart anyway. Best is to pull that tooth, no root canal, and just do a bridge job or a new denture instead.

Never allow a dentist to implant teeth. This is very dangerous for the jaw bone, which my dentist has informed me when I asked about it. The jaw bone can break or crack from any implanted tooth, and also it can become infected, until death occurs. As new technology is advancing, find a dentist with laser technology rather than the old drilling the teeth as it causes pain, heat and cracks from so much heat and vibration of the drill. One of the best machines now is from Biolase Technology company. There is a search engine of dentists that use their equipment to find the dentist in your area. This is a painless dental technology, not like drilling. Go see it at their website. I am now using this type of dentist, and I can tell you it won't even make you nervous as with the noise of drilling and grinding the teeth the old fashion way. You will be laying down on the dental lounge instead of the old dental chair, no joke.

Bromelain

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Posted by Kelsey (Oregon) on 05/25/2023
 ★★★★★

I read that book, about Root Canal Coverup leaking infection. So, I decided to have four root canals extracted because of the information in that book. My health was excellent at the time. My dentist disagreed me about having the root canals removed. His opinion was that root canals might leak a little but that most people's immune system simply fights it off. I had all four root canals extracted then I needed implants, well then I need more bone built up, before all four porcelain or ceramic implants could be placed. It was an intense and very costly process. Well, every single one of the porcelain implants failed, one by one. My dentist told me my body rejected them. Four dental implants all had to be removed. A very costly mistake to say the least. I should have just left the root canals alone, I believe some a few people get sick from root canals, but most people don't. The primary point, was that after the dental implant extractions, I was prescribed a painkiller, oxycontin. but I decided to take bromelain as a painkiller instead. I took two at the onset of any pain and it took the pain completely away! I sailed through recovery with bromelain and garlic chicken broth.

Bromelain, Turmeric

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Posted by Anonymouscat (La, Ca) on 01/31/2013
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Magnets for the facial area or brain are NOT suggested generally. That is what I read, in this book.

Inflammation, take Bromelain tablet and turmeric are amazing. I took Bromelain and arnica montana and drank aloe vera juice 5 days prior to surgery and I had an easy recovery.

Clove Oil

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Posted by Teena (Aus) on 07/28/2017 233 posts
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Editor's Choice

After dental extraction requiring 2 hours of cutting and 15 stitches my husband was in a lot of pain even after taking panadiene forte, a very strong pain killer. He asked me if there was anything I could use (very rare) so I gave him clove oil but not having high expectations as whole clove had failed me recently when I was trying to avoid kids flu. He applied it with a cotton bud and I was surprised he got 3 hours relief. He slept. Well when he went back to work he soaked a cotton wool and left it there. He has done this a few times and the skin on his inner lip and gum is showing signs of irritation but he says I can work on that (probably coconut oil) when he is not in anymore pain.

I have been giving him to avoid infection and inflammation olive leaf, vitamin c, gse, li, sea salt and bs and Apple Cider Vinegar tonic. And once per day (as this is how often I see him), milk with turmeric, cinnamon and powdered clove.

It is healing nicely (day 3) and he is still using the clove oil but on cotton buds and not wearing all day.

Clove Oil
Posted by Leah (Friendswood, Tx, United States) on 09/12/2009
 ★★★★★

Hi, I had a wisdom tooth extraction which led to dry socket. It hurt so bad, the pain was unbearable. I couldnt get to the dentist because it was closed, so I went and bought some clove oil, VERY potent stuff. I wet the gauze with a little clove oil and water and bit down on it. It was extremely powerful and was very bitter. I left it in for about 20 seconds biting down on it and pulled it out. I swallowed the reminence of it and it was spicy and bitter. Well, after that, I waited about 5 seconds and it atarted to work. All the pain was gone. I recommend it to anyone with dry socket, although it is powerful, it will get the job done better thsn psin meds, which I also took along side of clove oil, like ibuprophen, and applied Tigers Balm to the outside of the face where more of the pain was, and it took away the swelling. You will have to do this a few times a day and clean your teeth before you do this.

Clove Oil, Tea Tree Oil

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Posted by Summer (Fukouka, Japan) on 12/25/2011
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To: Mr Ted.... I have a question

I had a root canal done in a right upper tooth when I was 15 years old. Everything was o.k. Until I was pregnant with my daughter about 9 years ago. The gum was infected (around the area of root canal) a large pus from root canal was hurting my mouth. I was put on antibiotics twice during my pregnancy. My oral surgeon drained the pus after I gave a birth to my daughter. That was 9 years ago.

I began to have pain in the same area this summer. Once more I saw my dentist and he told me that I needed to extract the tooth. To make a long story short, I found a dentist who would do a re-root canal. He did a re-root canal for me this October of 2011 and put a new crown. His comment was there would be no guarantee that this tooth would last long. I thought he was saying to me indirectly that I need to extract this tooth eventually. My gum area was again started hurting about 2-3 weeks ago, so I put clove oil and tea tree oil in where I was hurting. Fortunately all my pain is gone and I feel that this tooth will last long. Do you think these oil are getting rid of my infection? I understand we cannot wipe out infection from root canal completely.

I really want to keep all my teeth including the one I talked about. Is there any other recommendation to keep the tooth other than what I am doing right now? (using oil) Sincerely, Summer

Replied by Summer
(Fukuoka, Japan)
12/26/2011

I just want to add one more story. I have been applying clove oil in the area I used to have discomfort every night. Fortunately, I don't have pain but I started bleeding this morning when I was brushing teeth. Is is abnormal?

Replied by Hs
(Fl)
03/14/2017

Yesterday I had 3 root canal teeth extracted. Since getting the root canals, I have had cancer, arthritis, and autoimmune disease. My doctor (and I) believe the illnesses stem from the root canals. I will NEVER get another root canal and am thrilled to be rid of them. Please google Mercola and root canal to see videos that explain the dangers inherent in keeping a dead body part in your mouth.

EC: Here's a 2012 article from Mercola's site that we found entitled 97% of Terminal Cancer Patients Previously Had Root Canal Procedure.

Replied by Robert Henry
(Ten Mile , Tn)
03/15/2017

Hs,,,,,,, thank you for your post. As a story teller, I have just the one for this post. Our dentist was married to a world class model and she had an infected tooth. She wanted a root canal and he counseled pulling. She won and later died of breast cancer. He got teary eyed when he told us this story as he knew that every tooth you have connects with a particular part of your body. Her infected tooth connected to her breast. That was many years ago and he has never re-married. I have never had a root canal, but my Tractor Driver has had several. We did not know the danger. Ozone is now used to kill the dental infection, but my research says even that only kills the bacteria for a year. Think we would be better served by reading the Old Farmers Almanac and following the Zodiac. Worked for our ancestors.

Hs, I wish you well.

=====ORH===

Replied by Hs
(Fl)
03/15/2017

Thank you for that story. Google "tooth meridian chart" to see what body part goes with what tooth. After I got the first root canal, I got thyroid cancer. Years later I saw on the chart that my root canaled tooth was connected to the thyroid.

My advice for everyone: when your dentist proclaims you need a root canal, immediately tell him you want an extraction. Don't hesitate or second-guess yourself (there is no such thing as "saving your tooth" or "saving your smile"). And if you need a root canal tooth removed, read Levy's book The Toxic Tooth for all of the specifics. Either way, missing a tooth is better than decades of illness or premature death.

Chai
(Poulsbo, Wa)
11/05/2023

It is good to know this that when you get a tooth extracted, you need a dental implant this is which where they drill into your bone to anchor the implant. This has its own share of complications. Everybody is different so it is good to do some research on the complication. Another option after a dental extraction is simply a dental partial ( denture ) for single tooth is the safest way to go. However, if you are having several teeth extracted it can result in a sunken face. I suggest taking collagen and bone supplement this may help. For other people a fat transfer might have to be considered if one is to avoid the sunken in look or a safe filler. I read about a tribe in Africa that Western Price studied, they first cleaned the tribe's teeth since they did not brush their teeth. Findings were they had zero tooth decay and no cavities, again this tribe didn't even brush their teeth. Perhaps sugar is the culprit in the western world.

Coconut Oil

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Posted by Ashamed To Admit It (Everywhere, Usa) on 04/24/2013
 ★★★★☆

Coconut oil in the diet has made life bearable from pain all day and night in numerous spots... Some ugly cavities and some broken crowns and some just seem to have sensitivities.

Gave up getting any more fixes, all the old ones failed and most recent work 2010, new crowns and fillings, ended up causing pain for solid year all day- everyday

12-12 to 4-13 Eat coconut oil in diet EVERYDAY and pain stays away... skip day or two and pain is back with a vengence.

Replied by Tons Of Dental Work
(Pain In Patootie, Usa)
04/26/2013

I think the system is failing myself after tons of dental work. After a mouth full of fillings that later required crowns that later needed root canals, that then needed pulled and then needed a partial that was done wrong and caused more tooth failure. Wow. The dentist that invented the root canal proceedure wrote a book called the root canal coverup. He is against the proceedure!

I have lost faith in the system and there are two books out there on how to heal cavities with diet. I was allergic to that diet but it was working for some people that gave testimony.

For me it will be an ACT OF GOD and be it unto me as my faith believes, because all other options have expired.

I did find an online denturist that helped me deal with my poorly made partial and helped me understand what I would have had to pay a dentist many appointments in time to tell me so I Could get to the bottom of my nightmare.

By odd chance I got a nice denturist that was retired came to my home and gave me a very fair price and made the most lovely denture to fill my face back out, due to the sunken look caused by the poorly designed and cheap metals that turned colors --- old broken partial. My dentist broke my partial and then blamed me for it. I had to file a claim and it was a messy mess. They refunded very little of the cost of a denture.

Never..... let them fix a broken denture, it will cause more harm than good.

Denturepro.com answers questions in a timely manner for FREE!

Colloidal Silver and DMSO

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Posted by Danny (WV) on 01/08/2018
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I used DMSO and Colloidal Silver mixed half and half, when I had all my teeth pulled, rubbed it on my cheeks the first few days, and it took out all the swelling and pain, and then applied it directly to the teeth sockets. Everything closed up in a week. Dentist couldn't believe it.

Dental Extraction Pain Remedies

Posted by Anna (Utah) on 12/20/2019

I went to my dentist about 3 weeks ago, he took out old fillings from 2 teeth, my upper, the molar way in the back & the 3rd tooth from the back as well, the filling were deep, close to the nerve, I waited to see how my teeth would feel after the new fillings were put in and they calmed down a lot so I decided to go ahead & put on crowns like my dentist suggested to preserve them both, today I went in and it took him 2 hours to grind them down, remove some of the mercury filling (what do we use to rid our bodies of mercury? my dentist of course said there is nothing) and cut around the gum line I am assuming to put the crowns on (right now I have the temp crowns on), I am still having pain, throbbing and can't even eat soft foods on that side (can't eat on my other side as well because I need implants), I am hoping this doesn't lead to root canals, I feel like I just got them calmed down and now they are acting up again from the trauma of the work that was just done...what would you use please? I am thinking about putting aloe vera gel on my gum lines

Replied by Larry
(Wichita)
12/28/2019

Hi Anna, I have heard selenium for mercury, I think from Ted. I am also having tooth problems. I have decided mine stems from TMJ. I think your mouth (and mine) being open for 2 hrs is enough to get our teeth riled up again. Good luck.

Dental Nerve Healing

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Posted by Tahera (Pune, India) on 03/22/2014

Hi! I had to extract 2 of my upper jaw wisdom teeth in June 2013 as they were next to my sinus membrane n were troubling me in form of giddiness n weakness. Ever since the extraction, my nerves are totally disturbed n I still have d pain of the wound due to d extraction though it is healing slowly. My dentist has said it would take at least a year to heal. In the meantime there aren't any medicines for it. I wanted to know if there are any home remedies which can soothe n heal d nerves faster. Best wishes

Replied by Kb
(Nm)
03/05/2016
★★★★★

My dr said take 2 T. organic coconut oil a day to heal dental nerves. You can use part of it for cooking etc.

Replied by Ben
(Bremerton Washington)
03/06/2016
★★★★★

Cayenne pepper works great for dental pain. it is a powerful antiinflammatory, kills germs that cause abscess, and blocks pain transmission signals. Cayenne contains what researchers call "substance p", a chemical that works to block pain signals. Years ago I had terrible tooth ache. pI ut a pinch of cayenne in there and in about 20 minutes, no more pain.

Gracie
(Seattle)
03/20/2016
★★★★★

An Asian mushroom has been proved to regenerate nerves is Hericium erinaceus (also called lion's mane mushroom, bearded tooth mushroom) easily found in Asian food specialty stores.

Garlic

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Posted by Ruth B. (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada) on 06/10/2016
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Editor's Choice

After having a very difficult extraction of two wisdom teeth growing sideways, my dental surgeon told me to take pain killers before the freezing came out. Since I don't take pain killers, I sliced a thin piece of garlic and placed on both extraction stitched wounds as the pain became unbearable. First it burned slightly, then the pain lessened so I did not need to take pain killers. I continued to replace with fresh garlic slices for a couple of days. The healing process was also unbelievably fast. The dental surgeon couldn't believe the results.


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