Control bleeding
Leave the gauze on the gum for at least half an hour. Dentists usually close the wound with stitches. This helps it heal. However, you may notice some bleeding at the extraction site immediately after the procedure. A gauze pad will help absorb the blood so you don't swallow it. Swallowing too much blood could make you sick
- After half an hour, remove the gauze and discard it. If the wound still appears to be bleeding, you can place another piece of gauze over it.
Avoid touching the wound. If you touch the area where your wisdom tooth was, you could dislodge the blood clot, which will cause it to bleed again. Even if you are curious and want to touch it, refrain from doing so and only observe it with your eyes
- You should avoid touching the area with your tongue. Rubbing the area with your tongue could dislodge the blood clot
Change the gauze. Rinse your mouth and place a new gauze pad on your gums if they are still bleeding. Depending on the condition of your mouth and the procedure that was performed, your gums may continue to bleed after the first half hour. If there is a little blood in your saliva, there is no need to worry. However, if the area continues to bleed profusely, you should replace the gauze pad.
- Rinse or gently wipe the area to remove any old blood clots. Then, place a folded gauze pad directly on the wound and bite down hard on it.
- Maintain pressure with your jaw for half an hour. This should stop the bleeding. Be careful not to chew the gauze, as this will stimulate salivation and could make the bleeding worse.
Observe if bleeding continues. Contact your dentist if bleeding continues after four hours. The wound should no longer bleed after four hours. If you still notice bleeding at this time and cannot stop it, consult your dentist immediately
- Do not wait four hours if you experience heavy, uncontrollable bleeding or if the gauze is completely soaked with blood in less than half an hour.
Keep your head elevated for at least three days. At least for the first 24 hours after surgery, you will probably spend most of your time sleeping. However, you should be careful about how you sleep for the first three days. Place at least two pillows under your head to keep it elevated. This helps ensure that the clot stays in place and the wound does not open or start bleeding again .
- If you have a travel pillow (like the one you put around your neck on a plane or in a car), you can use it to keep your head in the right position while you sleep.
Managing pain and discomfort
Take anti-inflammatory pain medication. If your surgery went well, you shouldn't need any medication prescribed by your dentist after your wisdom teeth removal. You can take ibuprofen or paracetamol every three to four hours if you experience pain or discomfort
- Your dentist may have prescribed pain medication for you. If your pain doesn't improve with over-the-counter medication, you can take the medication your dentist prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
Take medication for severe pain. If the procedure was difficult, the pain may be worse than if everything had gone well. Prescription medications may help relieve your pain, but they also have serious side effects. Never drive or operate heavy machinery after taking them .
- Take your prescribed medication at least on the first night, even if you don't think you need it. This will ensure you get a good night's sleep, which will boost your healing.
- Contact your dentist if the medications they prescribed make you nauseous. They may prescribe another medication in this case
Avoid eating or drinking if you feel nauseous. It is normal to feel nauseous right after the procedure, especially if you have received sedatives or anesthesia. If you experience nausea or vomiting after the procedure, wait at least one hour before eating or swallowing anything, including your medications .
- After an hour, you can slowly drink tea or ginger ale for about fifteen minutes. This will help the nausea go away. Then try to eat something.
Sit down for one minute before standing up. You may feel dizzy for the first 24 hours after surgery or while taking your medication. To make sure you don't trip or fall, sit down for one minute with both feet on the floor, then slowly stand up when you want to stand up .
- If you still feel dizzy after standing, stop moving for a minute or two before trying to walk.
- If you feel unsteady on your feet, ask a friend to help you walk. Keep what you need close by so you don't have to get up too often.
Massage your masseter muscles after surgery. The masseter muscles are the muscles you use to open or close your jaw. Since your jaw was left open for a long time during your wisdom teeth removal, these muscles will likely be sore and stiff after surgery.
- Place your fingers just before the opening of your ear on either side of your face to find the muscle. Gently massage it with your fingertips for two to five minutes every two hours.
Use an ice pack for inflammation. It's normal to experience some swelling immediately after surgery. Especially during the first 24 hours, an ice pack on your cheek against the gum where the wisdom tooth was extracted can help relieve swelling. Leave the pack in place for 15 minutes, then remove it. You can then leave the pack in place for 15 minutes every half hour..
- After 24 hours, ice will no longer have much effect on the inflammation. However, it can help numb the area to reduce pain.
Treat your dry, cracked lips with a lip balm. Since your mouth has been open for a long time, your lips are likely going to be dry and cracked, especially in the corners. Regular lip balms should be enough to solve the problem.
- If your lips don't improve with regular lip balm, you may want to discuss this with your dentist or surgeon. They may recommend or prescribe another product.
Taking care of yourself and your mouth
Contact your dentist if you experience any serious complications. Generally, the most serious symptoms will appear within the first 24 hours after surgery. Monitor your condition closely. Some symptoms may indicate infection or nerve damage. Call your dentist or surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: :
- difficulty breathing or swallowing;
- excessive bleeding;
- fever;
- severe pain that does not respond to prescribed medications;
- inflammation that persists or worsens after two or three days;
- a bad taste in the mouth that persists even after a salt water mouthwash;
- pus or discharge from the wound;
- persistent numbness in the cheek, tongue, lips, or jaw;
- blood or pus in your nasal discharge.
Drink plenty of water during the healing period. It is always very important to stay well hydrated . However, this becomes even more important after wisdom tooth extraction, especially in the first 24 hours. Since your mouth was left open throughout the procedure, you will likely feel dehydrated afterward. While your body heals, it needs more water than usual.
- Try to drink small sips from time to time. During the day, drink at least one large glass of water every hour.
- If you feel nauseous, you can drink ginger ale to settle your stomach. However, in general, you should avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and tea.
- Also, avoid alcoholic beverages for at least a week after surgery. Alcohol is dehydrating and can disrupt your body's natural healing process.
Eat soft foods that are high in calories and protein. Applesauce , yogurt , and cottage cheese are good foods to eat after surgery. You may also want to consume drinks that contain added nutrients
- Return to solid foods when you feel it's the right time, but go slowly. After three days, you should be able to eat solid foods that require little chewing, such as pasta and cheese.
- Do not eat foods that are too hot, as this could dislodge the clot. You should also avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods for at least a week.
- Try not to skip meals. You'll feel better and heal faster if you eat regularly. Even if you're not hungry, you can still eat a little.
Avoid strenuous activities for at least a week. For the first 24 hours after surgery, rest and take it easy. All activities should be passive, such as reading, watching television, or playing video games. After two or three days, you can resume your normal activities, but you should avoid strenuous exercise.
- These could dislodge the blood clot in the gum and you could develop a dry socket. You could also push too hard if you return to strenuous activities after a long period of rest.
- If you regularly exercise or do other strenuous activities, gradually return to your pre-intervention level.
Brush your teeth 24 hours after the procedure. Your dentist will likely advise you not to brush your teeth for 24 hours after the extraction. After that, you can usually brush your teeth as usual, unless you experience complications. Brush your teeth more gently than usual and avoid the wound as much as possible..
- Prepare a saline solution by mixing one teaspoon of salt in 250 ml of water. Rinse your mouth with the solution at least five to six times a day, especially after eating, unless your dentist advises otherwise.
- When rinsing your mouth, do not gargle or spit out the water, as this could dislodge the clot. Instead, swish salt water around in your mouth for a few minutes before opening your mouth and letting the water flow into the sink.
Wait 72 hours before smoking. If you smoke, you could cause dry socket by smoking too soon after surgery. Try to wait at least 72 hours, or even longer. Ideally, you should avoid smoking for two weeks or even quit completely..
- While smoking, the air movement created by sucking in your mouth creates a vacuum that could dislodge the blood clot. Additionally, the chemicals you inhale could cause complications.
- Since nicotine is a blood thinner, combined with sucking motions in the mouth, this could cause bleeding at the wound.
Attend follow-up appointments if necessary. Depending on the extent of the procedure and your overall healing, you may need to attend follow-up appointments. If you experience any complications during the healing period, such as excessive bleeding, pain, or inflammation, your dentist or surgeon may want to see you again later..
- If stitches were placed on the wound to close it, you will need to see your dentist to have them removed. However, many dentists use stitches that dissolve on their own.
Avoid sun exposure if discoloration is present. Bruising and discoloration around the jaw are common after wisdom tooth removal and should disappear after about two weeks. Sun exposure during this time can weaken your skin and worsen any discoloration you may be experiencing.
- Moist heat can help bruises and discolorations heal faster. However, wait at least 36 hours after surgery before applying it
Advice
- It is normal to have a slightly higher body temperature after surgery. However, if the temperature increases or continues to remain high after several hours, contact your dentist immediately .
- Ask someone to help and care for you for at least the first 24 hours after the extraction. After that, you should be able to manage on your own.
- Movies, video games , and books are good choices to keep you occupied while you heal. Keep plenty of options in case you can't sleep. This might also be a good time to marathon your favorite TV show.
Warnings
- This article provides general information only. Everyone is different. If your dentist or surgeon tells you something that contradicts what you have read in this article or what a friend or family member has told you, you should follow your dentist's or surgeon's advice.
- The falling blood clot can lead to dry socket, a condition that affects between 5 and 10% of patients who have had a wisdom tooth removed and causes intense and persistent pain. If you think you may have this, contact your dentist or surgeon as soon as possible to have the area
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Dentistry