Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Having wisdom teeth removed can be a nerve-wracking experience, but most of the anxiety is not caused by the procedure itself. Instead, a lot of the distress around having wisdom teeth removed is centered around the recovery process.

While there is likely to be pain and discomfort for several days after wisdom teeth removal, the path to recovery is made much easier by understanding what is to be expected.

Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal

The actual process of wisdom teeth removal is not painful as an anesthetic is used to numb the pain. However, there may be discomfort after having wisdom teeth removed.

The following information reveals what can be expected after wisdom teeth removal and how to make the path to recovery less painful.

Home care for wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth removal typically only keeps people away from their daily routine for a couple of days after the surgery. During that time, it is essential to practice good oral hygiene and to follow the dentist's instructions to prevent an infection from developing.

In some cases, the dentist may recommend not doing anything to agitate the affected area for the first few days, which may even include brushing your teeth or flossing for the first day or so. Instead, it may be helpful to use mouth rinse more frequently, although being gentle may be important when doing so.

Additionally, it is always a good idea to avoid anything that may lead to discomfort or increase the risk of an oral infection, including using tobacco, eating acidic foods and any activity that puts you at risk of suffering a blow to the mouth.

How to manage pain from wisdom teeth removal

Anytime a tooth is extracted - especially the wisdom teeth - there is going to be a level of pain that requires proper pain management.

The dentist almost always prescribes pain relief medication following wisdom teeth removal, which should help tremendously in keeping the pain amount at a tolerable level. Also, using a cold compress to relieve some of the pain and keep it slightly numb should help as well.

Most importantly, be careful not to consume any foods or drinks that can cause irritation or increase the risk of an infection, such as hard foods, foods or beverages that are either hot or cold and foods that can get stuck in between teeth. Instead, stick to soft foods for the first few days.

Prognosis and when to call the dentist

It usually does not take more than a week to recover from wisdom teeth removal. However, it can take as many as ten days in some cases. After the first two or three days, you should be okay to return to everyday life, including going to work or school.

In the event the pain or other residual symptoms do not go away after a week to ten days, the pain becomes too severe, or there is a chance an infection has developed, be sure to call the dentist and schedule a visit right away.

Request a dental appointment here: https://hemetdentalcenter.com or call Hemet Dental Center: Brian Stiewel DDS, INC. at (951) 707-4366 for an appointment in our Hemet dental office.