Wisdom teeth are also known as back molars which last teeth to emerge in the adult mouth. They occur between the age of 17 and 21. In case you have undergone the wisdom teeth removal then this guide will help you know how much time is needed to recover from the treatment.
Timeline of recovering from surgery
On the surgery day
Wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient procedure which means the patient can come and leave the dental clinic on the same day. If the patient is given local anesthesia or sedation then the patient is awake but they will not feel the discomfort. In case general anesthesia is given, then the patient is not awake and then will be taken to the recovery room. Your dentist will let you know in detail how the treatment will be done for you.
- Pain and Swelling
Following the treatment, pain and swelling are normal. On the first day of recovery, the person will have blood in the mouth. The patient can use an ice pack to deal with swelling.
- Medications
Make sure that you take the medications as prescribed by your doctor.
- Diet
You need to eat only soft food and avoid using a straw. Alcohol, smoking, and caffeine should be avoided.
Make sure you have someone with you to drive you back home as you won’t be able to drive for a long time.
Long-term recovery
In most cases, the patient can recover from wisdom teeth within 3 to 4 days. In case the teeth came at an awkward angle or it is impacted then it takes a full week to recover.
The wounds with this surgery will take more than a month so infection can trigger after few weeks from surgery. So, it is best to take care of yourself and look for the signs which can create trouble.
Resuming activities
You need to avoid certain activities like:
- Strenuous exercise
- Spitting
Seek help right away if:
- Trouble swallowing or breathing
- Blood coming from the nose
- Fever
- Medication not effective at dulling the pain
- Swelling
- Numbness
Taking care at home
The doctor will let you know how you need to take care of your teeth or how you need to brush it. Common cleaning instructions are:
- Rinse mouth with salt water as it keeps the wound clean. Instead of spitting the water you should tip mouth over sink and make the waterfall out.
- Absorb excess blood by dabbing the wound with gauze
Food to eat
You should eat soft food like:
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Apple sauce
- Pudding
- Soup
- Smoothies
For detailed information, you should talk to the doctor as they will let you know things according to your condition.