Wisdom tooth extractions are a common procedure, but it is understandable if you are a bit nervous about undergoing it! You might wonder how it will affect your daily routine. The good news is that recovering from wisdom tooth extractions is easier than most people expect. This blog post provides a basic guide to the post-treatment experience.
Full Recovery May Take Up to Two Weeks
Individuals heal at different rates. Generally, it takes 10 – 14 days for patients to return to feeling completely normal after their wisdom tooth procedure. Here is a basic overview of the recovery process:
- Within the first day or so, blood clots should start to form at your extraction sites.
- After 2 – 3 days, swelling of the mouth and face should start to go down. Most people are able to return to work or school at this point.
- After 7 days, any stitches at the extraction sites may be removed (some patients receive dissolvable stitches, so they can skip this step.
- Within 7 – 10 days, soreness and stiffness in the jaw may go away.
- A complete return to normalcy often happens around day 14.
Tips for a Smooth Recovery
Here are some guidelines that your dental team may give you in order to help you enjoy a smooth and complication-free recovery process:
Immediately after Your Surgery
As you leave the dental office, you may need to gently bite on a gauze pad to control bleeding. You might also be advised to place a cold compress on your face for 15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling. If you were sedated, you may feel groggy and tired for up to a full day, so you should not drive or do other potentially dangerous tasks during that time.
Your Diet
As long as your mouth is sore, you should eat a soft diet. Foods like smoothies, brothy soups, pudding, and yogurt are good choices. Avoid crunchy, hard, and chewy foods that might increase your discomfort or irritate your extraction sites. You might also be advised to stay away from caffeine for at least a few days.
Get Enough Rest
Pushing your body to do too much too soon after your procedure could increase your discomfort, make you feel exhausted, and slow down your natural healing process. Try to avoid vigorous physical activity for several days after your appointment.
Reduce the Risk of Dry Socket
Dry socket is a painful condition wherein the blood clot at an extraction site gets dislodged or fails to form. You can reduce your risk by avoiding the use of drinking straws, not smoking, and not spitting vigorously for at least the first 48 hours of your recovery. You should also not brush your surgical sites for 3 – 4 days.
Wisdom tooth recovery can affect your normal routine, but you should be back to feeling like yourself in what seems like no time at all!
Meet the Practice
At Santavicca Dental Professionals, we frequently remove troublesome wisdom teeth to preserve our patients’ long-term oral health. If you believe you need this procedure, or you have questions about what to expect from it, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact our Lebanon, NH, office at 603-215-7108 to chat with our team or request an appointment.