Dos and Don ts After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Table of Contents

Dos and Don ts After Wisdom Tooth Extraction; You can be sure that your oral surgeon will advise you on how to proceed after a wisdom tooth extraction, but don t forget that this is just medical advice and you should always follow your own instincts. Here are some common dos and don ts after wisdom tooth extraction:

Do let your doctor do the work. When it comes down to it, the only real benefit of extracting a wisdom tooth yourself is the learning experience. The doctor knows exactly what he or she is doing, so there’s no reason to make a mistake that could cause long-term damage.

Don t be embarrassed about asking for a second opinion. In the old days, patients were often reluctant to consult with another dentist because they had their own “expert” who was in a position to people from their practice. Nowadays, patients are much more comfortable seeking out second opinions when they have any concerns about their care or treatment options. Don’t worry about being seen as a complainer — doctors have become much more open about sharing information and offering assistance for good reason.

Don t tie your recovery to this one tooth. If you decide not to extract the tooth, you should plan on having extensive reconstructive work done at the same time (think dental implants, bridges and crowns). That way,

If your wisdom tooth removal leaves you with a large cavity in your mouth, there are some do’s and don’ts you need to follow.

Here are some basic instructions for what you can and cannot do after your extended dental procedure:

Eat solid foods only after the area has healed. Sour foods or foods that are hard to chew make it easier for bacteria to enter the cavity. Because the area is open, food gets stuck in the cavity, which can cause an infection. Food stuck on teeth can also lead to an abscess, which is a serious complication.
Brush your teeth twice a day while eating a soft diet. This helps keep the cavity clean and reduces the risk of infection.A regular toothbrush with its normal bristles (the kind without nylon) works best, but you can buy a special rubberized brush that has smaller bristles that are gentler on sensitive gums.
A small amount of liquid medicine called fluorouracil (5-FU) is applied twice daily directly onto the skin around the surgery site if necessary to minimize side effects such as mouth sores or bleeding gums. It should be applied about 20 minutes before eating so it does not get into your mouth.
Avoid tobacco products for one week

After wisdom teeth are extracted, people often wonder what they should do to avoid complications or infections. The best advice is to follow the instructions given by your doctor as closely as possible. It is also important to keep in mind that the issues you have after a wisdom tooth extraction are different from those after other types of dental procedures, such as braces or crowns.

After most dental procedures, people experience some swelling and tenderness. This is normal and should go away within a week or so. If it does not, especially if you have difficulty swallowing, call your dentist at once. You can usually get through the discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).

In addition to pain, there are two main complications that can develop after wisdom teeth removal: a sinus infection and an abscessed tooth. These problems usually happen a few days to weeks after the extraction but sometimes occur later on — sometimes even months later.

Sinus infections are caused by bacteria that can come from blood or saliva in the air around your mouth once the drainage system has been shut down. Even if you have no symptoms such as fever, chills and sore throat, you should still call your dentist

When a wisdom tooth has been extracted, you may experience some pain or swelling, but you should be able to eat and drink normally. If you have any of the following symptoms after surgery, contact your doctor right away:

The presence of blood or pus in the mouth

Pain that doesn’t go away despite pain medication

Trouble breathing or swallowing

The presence of swelling in the jaw area

Fever or chills

Wisdom teeth removal is a major event in the life of a teen, and the anxiety it generates can be hard to manage. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone — most kids will survive this surgery just fine.

Do And Don’ts After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom teeth are the molars that are located at the very back of your mouth and they come out during the late teens or early twenties. The removal of these teeth is usually advised when some kind of infection or pain occurs. If you have undergone a wisdom tooth removal, then here are some dos and don’ts to follow.

Use hot and cold compresses on your face for about 10 minutes after every 2 hours to relieve swelling and pain.
Apply ice packs on the cheeks instead of the jaw.
Take prescribed antibiotics and painkillers regularly as per the dosage given by your dentist.
Rinse your mouth with salt water after 24 hours of surgery to keep it clean and prevent infection. This will also help in reducing swelling, removing food debris and speeding up healing process. Here is how to do salt water rinse: Dissolve a teaspoonful of salt in a glass of lukewarm water Add half a teaspoonful of baking soda in it Swish this mixture around your mouth for about 30 seconds Spit it out Do this at least four times a day for better results Don’t rinse your mouth for at least 24 hours after the surgery as it may cause bleeding from s

Do:

Take your pain medication as prescribed.

Restrict physical activity for 1-2 days following surgery.

Eat only liquids and soft foods while you are numb.

Apply ice packs to the outside of your cheeks or lips to reduce swelling.

Begin brushing your teeth gently after 24 hours, but do not brush the surgical area for 2 weeks.

Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 tsp. salt in 8 oz. warm water) after meals and before bedtime for 2 weeks following surgery. Start this on the day after surgery when all bleeding has stopped. This will help keep food debris from accumulating around the surgical areas and will reduce the chance of infection. Don’t rinse vigorously and don’t spit forcefully as this may cause more bleeding or dislodge blood clots.

If you experience any discomfort at night, take your pain medication before going to sleep.

A normal diet can be resumed as soon as you feel comfortable chewing without pain or excessive pressure on the surgical site, usually within a few days following surgery. If you have difficulty chewing or swallowing due to swelling, resume a normal diet as swelling decreases. The diet should include soft foods such as eggs, mashed potatoes, soups and pasta until you are comfortable chewing without

If stitches were placed, they will dissolve on their own.
There may be slight bleeding or oozing of blood which may show up in the saliva or on a moistened tea bag.
Minor swelling is normal. You can apply an ice pack to the area (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off).
You may have minor discomfort for several days after surgery. This can be controlled with pain medication. If you do not normally take pain medication, alternating Tylenol (acetaminophen) with ibuprofen may help. Do not take more than the recommended dose of pain medicine without first checking with your dentist or oral surgeon.
To minimize bruising, avoid hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 48 hours after surgery.
After 24 hours, you may brush your teeth gently and rinse your mouth using warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water), four times a day for two weeks.
During the first few days, eat soft foods and gradually add solid foods as tolerated. Avoid extremely hot foods and drinks during this time as they may cause more bleeding by dissolving the blood clot that has formed in the socket.
No smoking for at least 72 hours following surgery as it will significantly impair

-Avoid the use of straws.

-Do not suck on candy, smoke or drink alcohol at least 48 hours after surgery.

-Do not spit or rinse vigorously for 24 hours after surgery as it may dislodge the blood clot in your socket.

-Do not brush your teeth but do clean them with a gauze pad or wet toothbrush.

-Do not smoke until all swelling has subsided.

-Do not exercise vigorously for a week after surgery.

DO NOT SMOKE OR DRINK THROUGH A STRAW FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS.

Do not smoke for at least 24 hours. If you do, the blood clot may come out, and bleeding will start again. Smoking also slows healing and increases the chance of complications. Do not use a straw, as sucking motion can dislodge the clot and delay healing.

DON’T TOUCH THE AREA WITH YOUR FINGERS OR WITH ANY OBJECTS.

Don’t rinse your mouth vigorously or probe the area with any objects (tongue, fingers, toothpicks). Rinsing too hard or probing the area can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot that forms in the socket. DO NOT SPIT OUT FORCEFULLY AFTER EXTRACTION.

After surgery it is important to spit saliva out gently without using a lot of force because this can cause bleeding to start again. Don’t rinse your mouth for at least 24 hours after surgery because doing so will remove the blood clot that helps promote healing.

DOs

1.Eat soft foods, as they are easier to digest.

2.Avoid making faces.

3.Use ice packs to reduce swelling.

4.Do not use straws because of the risk of dry socket.

5.Do not smoke or drink through a straw after surgery to prevent dry socket.

Do not touch the affected area with your tongue or fingers.
If a blood clot has formed, do not disturb it under any circumstances. It will protect the exposed bone from infection and provide a foundation for your gum tissue to heal.
If pain or swelling occurs, apply an ice bag or cold compress to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time, followed by 20 minutes without the compress; you can repeat this as needed throughout the day. An anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen is also helpful in controlling swelling.
Attempt to eat soft foods and liquids as soon as possible to avoid loss of nutrition and dehydration. Avoid hot fluids as they may dissolve any forming blood clots.
After 24 hours, gently rinse your mouth with salt water (one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water) several times a day to keep food particles and bacteria from accumulating around the extraction site(s).
Do not smoke or use any type of smoking device (hookah, e-cigarette, etc.), drink alcohol, or place anything into the extraction site(s) for 72 hours after surgery.

How Many Days Should You Rest After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

How many days should you rest after wisdom teeth removal depends on the level of difficulty that the doctor faces during the procedure. The level of difficulty may vary based on the position and angulation of the tooth that is going to be extracted.

What are wisdom teeth?

The last set of molars to appear in the mouth are called wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth usually emerge in your late teens or early twenties. You may have one, all four, or any combination in between. They can be a welcome addition to your smile, but in many cases, they need to be removed because there isn’t enough room for them in the mouth. This is a common procedure that an oral surgeon can perform.

How many days should you rest after wisdom teeth removal?

This depends on the extent of your procedure and your own recovery time. If you have one tooth removed, you may be able to return to work or school the next day with just some minor discomfort. If you have several teeth removed at once, you should plan on taking at least a few days off from work and avoiding strenuous activity or exercise for at least two weeks. Your oral surgeon will provide you with specific instructions based on your case.

After removal of wisdom teeth, the patient should rest for the first few days and no strenuous activity. The patient can return to work or school the next day if he or she is comfortable.

The patient should avoid any activity that will increase the heart rate or blood pressure for at least 24 hours. This includes running, weightlifting, and other strenuous activities.

Avoid drinking through a straw for at least 24 hours after surgery as this may cause bleeding by dislodging the blood clot from the surgical site.

Wisdom teeth removal is a minor surgery. You’ll likely be prescribed pain medication, and it’s important to have someone drive you home after the procedure.

Once at home, it’s time to rest and let your body heal. This will give you the best results from your procedure. The amount of time you need to rest depends on your specific circumstances. It can vary from person to person, depending on the difficulty of the procedure and any complications that arise.

A few days of rest is typically needed after wisdom teeth removal to allow your mouth to heal properly. In some cases, you may need up to a week or more of downtime before returning to work or school.

Most people recover from wisdom tooth removal surgery in three to four days.

First 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal:

You will likely be groggy from the anesthetic and pain-relieving medications. It is important that you are not left alone until the effects of these medications have worn off. Limit yourself to a liquid diet. Do not attempt to chew anything. (See post-extraction care in the next section.)

Recovery from wisdom teeth removal is typically a process of five to seven days. The first day or two are often the most difficult and require the most attention. After that, the immediate recovery period usually becomes easier.

Wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient procedure that may be performed in a hospital or dental office. After the procedure, patients will usually be given gauze pads to bite down on and told to change them every 30 minutes. This helps stop bleeding and encourages new tissue to form over the socket where the tooth was removed. Patients generally need to rest or sleep with their head raised until any bleeding stops completely. If there is still bleeding present after 24 hours, patients should return to see their oral surgeon for further evaluation and treatment.

Swelling and tenderness in the jaw area may occur for several days after surgery. To help lessen this discomfort, patients can use ice packs for 15 minutes at a time, four times per day during recovery from wisdom teeth removal. If swelling and pain persist longer than expected, it is important to contact your oral surgeon for further instructions.