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Recovery of Wisdom tooth removal
After the operation you may experience:
- swelling for a few days until the area heals - cold applied gently e.g. on a cloth on the face around site of swelling will bring it down,
- bruising of the jaw muscles often causes stiffness of the jaw which wears off after 7-10 days,
- a feeling of comfort and a less crowded mouth,
- a dirty taste in mouth,
- rarely there is tingling or numbness of the face, lips or tongue, and
- varying degrees of pain – the level of discomfort is related to the ease of extraction.
You can help yourself to recover if you:
- take painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen,
- avoid strenuous activity or exercise for a few days,
- use an extra pillow to support your head, and for extra comfort at night,
- avoid rinsing, spitting, or anything else that may dislodge blood clots such as hot drinks - the blood clot that forms in the empty tooth socket helps the healing process,
- avoid smoking and alcohol,
- eat soft or liquid food for a few days, chew with other teeth, and
- after 24 hours gently rinse the extraction site regularly with warm salt water.
Other post-operative information:
- there will be no difference to your face or appearance,
- if you are given antibiotics you should finish the course,
- some people also find homeopathic remedies help,
- any stitches will dissolve by themselves,
- you can usually begin to brush teeth normally after several days,
- a check-up appointment is usually arranged after a week or so, at which any remaining stitches will be removed.
You should report:
- any excess bleeding,
- any severe pain, or
- any other unusual symptoms.
