If your wisdom teeth have been hurting or are soon to cause pain, then having them removed can relieve your discomfort. While you might be worried about the extraction itself, it’s often an easy procedure as your dentist works to make you as comfortable as possible. However, you will need to recover afterward. Here’s a guide on how long it may take and tips to heal smoothly.
Immediately Afterward
Once you are free from your wisdom teeth, you might not feel much after your procedure. Your mouth was numbed with powerful local anesthesia, and you were likely given dental sedation to help you relax. You may feel a bit groggy, but you’ll need to gently bite down on gauze, and your dentist will hand whoever you’re with post-op instructions.
For now, simply take it easy and get plenty of rest. Keep your head elevated and avoid hot and spicy foods as they can irritate. You are likely to bleed and have swelling, but your body will start to heal by forming a blood clot in the extraction site.
A Couple of Days After Your Treatment
On days two and three, the swelling might reach its peak. You can soothe it by applying a cold pack for 15-minute intervals. You should also stick to your dentist’s guidelines and to a soft food diet, such as mashed potatoes, applesauce, and yogurt. They are easy to chew, so you give your mouth the break it needs while healing.
Not only that, but don’t drink from a straw or rinse too aggressively. These actions can dislodge the needed blood clot and cause dry socket.
By the First Week’s End
The swelling and discomfort you had should start going away by the end of the first week, and you may be able to get back to light activities. However, there’s no harm in taking it easy still!
Continue avoiding crunchy and spicy things as they can cause trouble, and keep up with brushing and flossing. Just be gentle and don’t do it over the extraction site. You may be able to rinse with warm salt water; that way, you wash away harmful bacteria and debris.
Two to Four Weeks After Your Procedure
Patients often start to feel normal after two weeks, but you may still have minor tenderness. The pain itself should be over, but your gums may need a full month before they heal. Over the next several months, the bone tissue will repair itself as well.
In the end, healing from your wisdom teeth extraction will take some time, but it will be worth it in the end. Any problems they caused will stop, and you can get back to having a comfortable smile that feels better.
About the Author
Dr. Dhavalkumar Rana earned his dental degree from New York University. He is here to help you throughout your oral health journey, especially if you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. Dr. Rana works to make this procedure as easy as possible through state-of-the-art techniques and dental sedation. If you want more tips about recovering from this treatment, schedule an appointment or call his office at (469) 399-7288.