What Does Recovery Involve After Wisdom Teeth
Are Pulled?
After having your wisdom teeth removed, the speed of your recovery depends on the degree of difficulty of the extraction (a simple extraction of a fully erupted tooth versus a tooth impacted into the jawbone). In general, here's what to expect.
During the first 24 hours
Bleeding may occur for
several hours after tooth extraction. To control it, position a piece of clean
moist gauze over the empty tooth socket and bite down firmly. Apply constant
pressure for about 45 minutes. A moistened tea bag is an effective
alternative. The tannic acid in tea helps healing blood clots to form (blood
clots function similarly to scab over an open wound). Repeat this process if a
small degree of bleeding continues; if heavy bleeding continues to occur,
contact your dentist or oral surgeon. Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24 hours
after tooth extraction, avoid "sucking" actions (for example, don't drink
beverages through straws or smoke) and avoid hot liquids (such as coffee or
soup). These activities can dislodge the clot, causing dry socket (see
below) to develop.
Facial swelling in the
area where the tooth was extracted typically occurs. To minimize swelling,
place a piece of ice, wrapped in a cloth, on that area of your face on a
schedule of 10-minutes on, followed by 20-minutes off. Repeat as necessary
during this first 24-hour period.
Pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or
ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) can be taken for minor pain. Your dentist or oral
surgeon may prescribe more potent pain relievers, such as narcotics, if
necessary.
Antibiotics that may have been prescribed prior to tooth extraction (to treat any active infection around the wisdom tooth to be extracted) should continue to be taken until the full prescription is gone.
Foods should be restricted to a liquid diet until all the numbness from anesthesia has worn off. Eat soft foods for a few days. Also avoid
alcohol if you're also taking narcotic pain medication.
Continue to brush your teeth, but avoid the teeth
directly neighboring the extracted tooth during the first 24 hours.
On day two, resume the gentle brushing of your teeth. Do not use
commercial mouth rinses -- these can irritate the extraction site.
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Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and uterus. Risk factors for blood clots include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms of a blood clot depend on the location of the clot. Some blood clots are a medical emergency. Blood clots are treated depending upon the cause of the clot. Blood clots can be prevented by lowering the risk factors for developing blood clots.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
Gum disease is caused by plaque and may result in tooth loss without proper treatment. Symptoms and signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontal disease) include receding gums, bad breath and pocket formation between the teeth and gums. Treatment depends upon the stage of the gum disease, how you responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.
Dry socket is a painful condition that sometimes occurs after a tooth has been pulled. Dry socket can occur if the blood clot protecting the bone and nerves in the hole in the bone where the tooth was pulled becomes dislodged after extraction. In addition to pain, symptoms include bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. People who smoke, have poor oral hygiene, and those who use birth control pills have a greater likelihood of developing dry socket. This condition may be treated with aspirin, ibuprofen, a nerve block, or medication prescribed by your dentist.
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The most common taste disorder is phantom taste perception; that is, a lingering, often unpleasant taste even though you have nothing in your mouth. We also can experience a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami, a condition called hypogeusia. Some people cannot detect any tastes, which is called ageusia.
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