Wisdom teeth extraction is a common procedure, especially among young adults. This is because wisdom teeth often grow at odd angles and can impact other teeth. If you’re having a wisdom tooth extracted soon and you need tips about how to recover quickly, then read on, as this is the post for you.

What symptoms can I expect during recovery?

First, let’s go over what symptoms you can expect to experience in the days after the surgery. Common symptoms during recovery are:

• Swollen and mildly bruised cheeks
• A sore jaw
• Pain
• An unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Tingling or numbness of the face (although this symptom is rare)

Do see your dentist quickly if you have any intense pain or excess bleeding, as this is not normal.

What can do to speed up the healing process?

There are plenty of things you can do to heal faster. Here are some general tips to aid your recovery.

• For the first 36 hours after surgery, use an ice pack on your face to minimise swelling.
• After the first 36 hours after surgery, use a hot towel to alleviate jaw soreness or stiffness.
• Eat only soft foods like rice, soup and pasta.
• Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
• Don’t smoke or drink alcohol while you recover, especially during the first 24 hours after surgery.
• Use an extra pillow to support your head while sleeping.
• Gently rinse your mouth with mouthwash or warm salt water to reduce soreness and inflammation.

I’ve heard it’s important not to dislodge the blood clots?

Yes, that’s true. You see, when you have a wisdom tooth extracted, a blood clot forms at the site of the extraction. This blood clot helps to protect your mouth while your wound heals. If the clot gets dislodge before the wound heals, then healing can be delayed and you might even get a bone infection. The main symptom of a dislodged blood clot is pain, so contact your dentist or surgeon if you develop new pain in the days after your surgery or if your existing pain worsens.

Here are some tips to avoid dislodging the important blood clots after surgery:

• Don’t use a straw in the first week after the surgery.
• Don’t eat hard foods.
• Don’t brush your teeth too hard.
• Don’t do any strenuous exercise or activity for the first week or so after surgery. See it as your chance to kick back and relax for a while!

Conclusion

We hope that now you feel a little more prepared about how to recover from wisdom tooth surgery. If you’d like to speak to a dentist about your wisdom teeth, or indeed any other dental issue, then please don’t hesitate to make an appointment.