How to Recover from Wisdom Tooth Removal

While it’s a fairly common operation, wisdom tooth removal comes with a significant recovery process. Here are ways to make it as painless as possible. Make sure you make your appointment on a day that gives you a couple of days to recuperate after the surgery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Stock up on supplies the night beforehand. Buy soft foods, such as soup, yogurt, canned peaches, pears, pudding and cottage or cream cheese. You won't be able to eat hard and cold or hot foods for at least 48 hours after surgery.
2. Bite firmly on the gauze the dentist applied to the wound for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, replace with clean gauze. Continue to replace the gauze until the bleeding stops (usually not more than an hour or two). Some seepage may continue after this, which is normal and should be swallowed. Do not attempt to spit the blood out as the pressure change in your mouth will affect clotting.
3. Have someone with you on the day of the operation since you may be drugged.
4. Apply ice to your cheek to help prevent swelling for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, ice can help ease the pain. Keep it close at hand.
5. When lying down or sleeping, elevate your head with a couple of pillows. This will reduce swelling.
6. Always have some water, your pain killers and antibiotics nearby. Keep movies, games, books, and other diversions handy to distract you from your discomfort.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use sipping straws for about a week. The pressure change in your mouth can cause clots to become loose or dislodged. A dislodged clot can often lead to a "dry socket" (exposed bone and nerve endings) which can be very painful.
• Don't smoke. This introduces toxins to the wound site, and can have an adverse effect on clotting.
• Right after your teeth are pulled, your doctor will have certain steps he'll want you to follow. Make sure you read the material he gives you about how to take care of your teeth.