Have a Sore Throat from Wisdom Teeth? Here’s What to Do

Although wisdom teeth are a natural occurrence in the mouth, they can lead to oral health issues. After extracting one or multiple wisdom teeth, numerous patients experience a sore throat. This complication is usually due to swollen and sore muscles near the surgical site. When there is no space for the wisdom tooth to occur, they come up partially. It is called impacted wisdom teeth.

Common Symptoms of Infected Wisdom Tooth

An infected tooth has the following symptoms:

• Fever.
• Pus oozing out from the gum tissues.
• Pain near the infected area.
• Gum bleeding.
• Soft and tender gums.
• Difficulty in swallowing food.
• Swollen lymph glands under the jaw.

An infected wisdom tooth or teeth can cause other symptoms too like jaw pain, and headache.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Below are the common signs of impacted wisdom teeth:

• Frequent bad breath for the mouth.
• Difficulty in opening and closing the mouth.
• Constant ear pain.
• Tenderness near the swollen gum region.
• Pain in the jaw area.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth and Sore Throat Connection

It is easy for the bacteria, plaque, and food bits to collect near the impacted wisdom teeth. With time, the bacteria multiply and result in a dental abscess or infection. A tooth abscess is an extremely painful condition. So, if you have one or multiple infected wisdom teeth in your mouth, it is common to experience a sore throat. It’s because these third and final sets of molars are located near the front of the mouth.

How Long Does a Sore Throat Last?

On average, the sore throat usually fades off between three days after the procedure. It is common to experience stiff, sore, and tender jaws.

How to Get Relief from a Sore Throat Due to Wisdom Teeth?

The following tips will help you treat your sore throat quickly at home:

Washing With Salt Water Solution

Routine cleaning using a saltwater solution will kill the bacteria and help with sore throat quickly. You can create a saltwater rinse by adding half a tsp salt into one glass of warm water and then gargling using it. But after gargling, avoid spitting from your mouth forcefully. Doing this can interfere with the blood clotting in the surgical area and could lead to a dry socket.

Use a Hot Pack

Another way to fix a sore throat is to use a moist hot pack on the jaw. If your sore throat or oral pain stays for more than three days after the wisdom tooth extraction, contact the team at On Pointe Dentistry immediately. The discomfort should peak between 24 to 72 hours. After that, it fades off (which takes one to two weeks).

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a great way to get relief from dental pain after a surgical procedure. It includes using tiny needles that promote the natural healing mechanism.

Honey and Lemon

Honey and lemon are also effective in getting relief from a sore throat. They contain natural soothing properties. Thus, when using these ingredients, make sure you use them in moderation.

Avoid Taking Hot Tea

Taking teas like peppermint or chamomile is also a good way to get help with a sore throat. But avoid making them extremely hot. Water and other non-citrus beverages eradicate mouth bacteria and soothe a sore throat.

Consume Soft Food Varieties

Try to take foods that are easy to chew and won’t hurt the wound or get stuck in the throat. These typically include soups, yogurt, ice cream, etc. After several days of wisdom tooth extraction, your throat will get ready for eating and talking again.

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Treatments

The professional usually recommend extracting the infected wisdom tooth. He/she starts by cleaning the underlying tooth socket and soft tissue to eradicate bacterial build-up. After the wisdom teeth removal, sore throat and other signs fade off. The mouth even starts healing fast.

The professional also suggests antibiotics to patients that don’t have time or can’t afford the surgery. Antibiotics minimize pain and heal the infection quickly. But if you find it hard to open your mouth, swallow food or get a fever, immediately get in touch with a Phoenix dentist at On Pointe Dentistry.