Pulled Tooth

Pulled Tooth

Ever wonder why those often-yanked molars are called "wisdom teeth"? Have them pulled and you'll soon question the wisdom of that decision.

Actually, get any of your teeth pulled and you'll note the healing process has plenty of hurt--as well as its share of physical foolishness. just look in the mirror and you may see cheeks as swollen as those of a Type A squirrel prepping for the winter. Here's how to pull the plug on the pain of pulled teeth.

Try hands-on healing. According to some doctors, there are "pressure points" on the body, and pressing on or massaging those areas can help relieve pain. "Massage either your earlobe or the area of your hand between your forefinger and thumb on the same side as your pain to bring relief," says Wistar Paist, D.M.D., a dentist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. "Gently massage that spot with your other hand for about 10 minutes. You should get relief in 15 or 20 minutes. If the pulled tooth is on the right side, rub your right earlobe or right hand; if the pain is on the left side, rub the left side." (You can also numb the area with a piece of ice instead of rubbing; the procedure is the same.)

Take vitamin C. Taking 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C daily (500 milligrams with each meal) can take a lot of the punch out of extractions, according to researcher Robert Halberstein, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He recommends those doses both before and after dental work.

"We found that people who take 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C daily-that's one 500-milligram tablet with each meal--for a couple of days prior to the extraction and then for a week afterward have a significantly faster healing process than those who don't take the supplements," says Dr. Halberstein. "Vitamin C speeds the healing process because it plays a major role in the manufacture of collagen in the body, which is a protein material that's instrumental in forming scar tissue."

Bonus: Following this 1,500-milligram formula can reduce by sevenfold your chances of developing the painful inflammation of "dry-socket," which occurs in 1 of every 20 extractions.

Chill out ... and then warm up. "Timing is very important in order to relieve the pain of a pulled tooth. For the first 24 hours after the extraction, place an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) on the area outside the mouth where the tooth was pulled in order to prevent swelling--20 minutes on and 20 minutes off in order to minimize the swelling and pain," says Nabil Abaza, D.M.D., Ph.D., professor of dental medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospitals, Main Clinical Campus, in Philadelphia. "But after the first 24 hours, switch to gargling gently with warm salt water. The heat soothes, and the salt water helps prevent infection and remove any food particles."

Swallow that pain reliever. Forget about placing aspirin directly on the socket to bring quick relief. "It's okay to swallow aspirin for the pain, but placing it directly on the gums causes a terrible irritation on the tissues," says Dr. Paist. If you're sensitive to aspirin, try swallowing ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Also, don't give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.

Don't wait too long to get help. The longer you wait before getting a painful tooth pulled, the longer your pain will continue after its pulled. "Don't wait until you can no longer stand it before you see your dentist, because you will pay for it with more pain and infection," says Dr. Abaza. "The quicker a damaged tooth is removed, the easier it is to extract--and the less pain you will have in recovery."