Wisdom teeth removal, also known as third molar extraction, involves removing wisdom teeth due to impacted wisdom teeth symptoms or impaction of the wisdom teeth. If there’s no room in your mouth for wisdom teeth to grow in properly, you may need to have them removed by a dentist or oral surgeon. The process can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but you’ll recover faster if you follow these dos and don’ts after wisdom teeth removal surgery.
The importance of diet
The American Dental Association recommends that patients eat a well-balanced diet including plenty of protein, calcium and vitamin C to aid in wound healing. You can’t change what happened, but you can take steps to ensure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Don’t think my mouth is healing from wisdom tooth removal so I can eat whatever I want, because it won’t be true. There are some specific things you should do after wisdom teeth removal to speed up recovery and reduce your risk of complications. What you eat during recovery does matter! While diet isn’t everything, it is important for healthy body function which includes healing from wisdom tooth extraction.
The importance of rest
Do your best to rest for at least a week or two. While your mouth is healing, you’ll likely be in pain, so plan on doing very little beyond resting, eating soft foods and taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen. As tempting as it might be to go out with friends or work full-time while you heal, keep in mind that every time you open your mouth widely (like when talking) can irritate your wound and make it take longer to heal. After two weeks, your stitches will dissolve on their own; there’s no need to have them removed by a doctor.
How to deal with pain after wisdom teeth removal
Getting your wisdom teeth out is one of those rites of passage that a lot of people just have to get through. A trip to a dentist, anesthesia (probably), and pain for about a week afterward are just some of what you might expect. But before your surgery, there are some things you can do to help make your experience more pleasant. And afterwards, there are things you should do (and shouldn’t) to help ensure that you aren’t in pain longer than necessary.
Why do I have swelling in my face?
Swelling is a normal part of recovery. This can happen in your cheeks, lips, neck or anywhere else. Swelling will go down in most people within 1 to 2 weeks. To make sure you reduce swelling as much as possible after wisdom teeth surgery, here are some things to do
Healing Takes Time!
While we want to be back on our feet as soon as possible, it’s important to let our bodies recover from a major surgery. Give yourself plenty of time to heal before you get back into rigorous exercise. While there is no set amount of time that is required, most dentists recommend waiting at least three weeks before engaging in strenuous physical activity. If you had an impacted wisdom tooth removed, wait even longer—up to four months—before you start an intense fitness regimen like heavy weightlifting or competitive sports.
How to communicate with your dentist after wisdom teeth removal surgery
Most dentists recommend patients call or email their office in a few days after wisdom teeth extraction to let them know how they’re feeling. If you can’t reach your dentist, leave a message with his or her staff. A follow-up phone call is recommended because it allows for a direct conversation about your pain level, medications taken, amount of bleeding or swelling experienced, or any questions you might have. Your dentist may also ask you to keep detailed notes about your healing process until he or she sees you again in six weeks. Even if it feels like nothing more than excess paperwork on top of everything else post-surgery, having these records will be helpful as you move forward with treatment.
