Wisdom Teeth Removal Recovery: What to Expect

Why recovery is different for wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth sit at the very back of the jaw, which shapes what happens after wisdom tooth extraction. Many are tilted, partly covered by gum or still under the bone. Removing them may mean a small cut in the gum, taking out a little bone, or dividing the tooth into pieces. That is more work than lifting out a loose front tooth, so the healing period is usually longer and the swelling is more noticeable.

How you feel after wisdom tooth extraction depends on how many teeth came out, how deep they were and your own health. Two people having the same surgery can recover at very different speeds. Treat this as a general picture and follow the plan your dental team gives you.

Before the appointment: set yourself up

A little planning makes the first few days much easier.

• If you will have sedation, arrange for an adult to drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day.
• Ask about time off. Many people take one to three days away from work or school, more for a physical job.
• Stock up on soft foods: yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, soup, mashed potatoes, soft pasta and smoothies to eat with a spoon.
• Put a few ice packs or bags of frozen peas in the freezer.
• Ask a pharmacist ahead of time which over-the-counter pain reliever suits you, especially if you take other medicines.
• Plan to skip sports, heavy lifting and intense workouts for several days.

The first 48 hours after wisdom tooth extraction

The freezing in your mouth can last several hours. Some oozing is expected. Keep firm pressure on the gauze pads as you were shown, and change them when they become soaked. Prop your head up on pillows when you lie down.

Cold packs help most in the first day. Hold one on the outside of your cheek in short sessions, with a cloth between the pack and your skin. Take things slowly, drink plenty of water from a cup, and leave straws, smoking and vaping alone. These can pull the clot out of the socket.

If you were sedated, don't drive, sign important papers or use machinery until the time your dental team gives you has passed.

Days 3 to 7: the turning point

Swelling often looks its biggest around day two or three. You may also notice some yellow or purple bruising along the jaw or neck, which fades on its own. After the first day, gentle warmth on the cheek can feel better than cold.

Jaw stiffness is common because the muscles near the back teeth get sore. Open and close your mouth gently a few times a day, without forcing it. Begin warm salt water rinses after the first 24 hours unless told otherwise, especially after eating. If your dentist gave you a small plastic syringe, start using it only when they said to, usually after several days, to flush food from lower sockets.

By the end of the first week, most people are eating soft regular food and feel much more like themselves.

Wisdom teeth removal after care in week two and beyond

In the second week, the gum keeps closing over the sockets. Dissolving stitches fall out on their own; other stitches are taken out at a check visit. A small dip may remain for some weeks, especially in the lower jaw, while the bone fills in underneath.

Keep brushing all your teeth twice a day, taking extra care near the back. Ease back into crunchy foods, rice, seeds and popcorn last, as these can lodge in the healing area. Stay with the after wisdom teeth removal care plan you were given until your follow-up, even if you feel fine.

Managing pain safely

Discomfort is usually strongest in the first two or three days. Your dentist may suggest an over-the-counter pain reliever or give you a prescription. Take it only as directed on the package or by your dentist and pharmacist, and never take more than the label allows. Avoid alcohol while taking pain medicine, and don't drive if a medicine makes you drowsy.

If you were prescribed antibiotics, take them exactly as directed. Never start antibiotics on your own, and don't share them. If pain is not easing by the third or fourth day, or suddenly gets worse, call your dentist rather than taking extra medicine.

Possible problems to know about

Most recoveries are uneventful, but it helps to know the signs of the less common problems.

• Dry socket: a deep ache that rises a few days after surgery, sometimes with a bad taste. Our article on dry socket covers it in more detail.
• Infection: growing swelling after day three, fever, pus or a foul taste.
• Numbness: tingling or numbness of the lower lip, chin or tongue that lasts past the day of surgery. This is uncommon and usually improves, but your dentist needs to know.
• Bleeding: oozing that will not slow down with steady pressure.

When to call, and when it's an emergency

Call the clinic that did your surgery if any of the problems above show up, or if something just doesn't feel right. For people in Aurora or nearby who had their wisdom teeth out with us, call Aurora Gateway Dental Care at 289-475-5497, and if we're closed, follow the instructions on our line. Call 911 or go to the emergency department if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, or if heavy bleeding will not stop.

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