How to Recover from Wisdom Teeth Removal

Have you felt some pain at the back of your mouth, but don’t know what’s causing it? Does it feel like a strong pressure pushing on your teeth?

It could be that your wisdom teeth are trying to come in, but they aren’t coming in properly. Wisdom teeth removal may be the best option.

Minimizing Discomfort Before Removing Wisdom Teeth

On the day of a surgery to remove wisdom teeth at your Houston dentist, take some pain medication (one prescribed by a doctor or dentist works best) one hour before your procedure is scheduled.

Your Houston dentist will use local anesthetics and sedation dentistry to minimize discomfort during the surgery. Taking pain medication beforehand helps reduce sensation a bit sooner.

After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Firmly bite down on a gauze pad that has been placed over removal sites. This will help your body with stopping the blood flow in these areas.

After 60 minutes, carefully remove the gauze pads. If bleeding persists, place fresh gauze and firmly bite down for another 30 minutes.

Don’t vigorously rinse or clean your teeth after surgery. Do not probe the surgery sites with your tongue, fingers, or anything else, as this will slow healing.

It is highly recommended that you do not smoke during the entire course of healing.

After your surgery and for the following day, limit yourself to resting in bed or on a couch. Excessive movement, especially bending or lifting, can increase bleeding.

If lying down, slowly rise to standing. It is possible that you may be light headed after surgery.

Cleaning your mouth is important to prevent an infection from occurring. You may brush your teeth the night after your surgery, but be careful around the surgical sites. Additionally, use a salt water gargle (1 tbsp salt to 8 oz water) to kill bacteria and reduce discomfort.

It is not uncommon for the surgical sites to ooze blood for up to two days, but if bleeding is persistent, firmly bite down on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. The tannic acid contained in tea leaves stimulates blood clotting.

If bleeding continues to be persistent or is excessive, return to your Houston dentist for professional care.

Swelling usually reaches its peak two or three days after surgery. You can manage swelling with ice packs wrapped in a towel. Place the pack against your cheek next to the surgery site. Do this on and off for about 20 minutes at a time for the first day.

If you are prescribed pain medication, take it as directed. It is best to take some pain medication immediately after surgery so that it has time to work as the anesthetic wears off.

Discomfort generally peaks around 6 hours after surgery. After this point, your need for medication will decrease.

Avoid eating and drinking very hot foods for the first day after surgery. Also, it is recommended you stick to a liquid diet for the first day. Avoid chewing anything until total sensation has returned to your tongue.

Avoid eating any crunchy foods while you are healing. These include nuts, rice, chips, and popcorn. Similarly, avoid using a straw to drink.

In the Days After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Return to your normal oral hygiene routine as soon as you feel comfortable. In the meantime, continue using salt gargles to clean out bacteria around the surgery site without irritating it.

The healing process begins right after surgery, but usually patients start noticing gradual healing after Day 3, when swelling begins to recede.

Bruising may be visible around this time, appearing as black, blue, green, or yellow patches of discoloration. This is normal. Moist heat applied to the area can reduce discoloration.

If anything out of the ordinary happens, such as intense pain or excessive bleeding, contact your Houston dentist to have them check the surgery sites and recommend a manner of reducing these problems.