How to Clean Your Teeth After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located in the back of your mouth. They typically come in when you’re between 17 and 25 years of age. It’s common to have your wisdom teeth removed. They may need to be removed because they’re impacted and won’t come in normally. Or they may need to be removed because they’re coming in at a wrong angle.

During the removal procedure, you’ll be given anesthesia. Many surgeons will use some form of local, sedation, or general anesthesia. If your teeth haven’t come in yet, your surgeon will likely make incisions to remove them. They may need to remove bone if it’s blocking access to the root of the tooth. Once the teeth are removed, they’ll clean the site and add stitches to close the incision site if necessary. They’ll also place gauze over the extraction site.

What you eat following your wisdom teeth removal is important. Eating soft or liquid foods won’t irritate the extraction site, helping it to heal faster. Some foods and drinks can irritate or become trapped in the extraction sites, leading to infection. It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders about what to eat following surgery.

Immediately following your wisdom teeth removal and during recovery, you’ll want to start with liquid and soft foods. You won’t have to chew these foods, saving you some pain. Avoid eating harder foods at this time, as these might damage, or get trapped in, the recovering area.

Examples of liquid and soft foods include:

• apple sauce
• yogurt
• smoothies
• broths and blended soups
• mashed potatoes
• Jell-O, pudding, and ice cream

Cold foods like Jell-O, smoothies, and ice cream may relieve some discomfort. Nutrient-rich soups and smoothies can help promote healing. Soups in particular can help balance out the other high-sugar options on the list.

As you start to heal, you can incorporate more normal foods. Start off easy with semisoft foods like scrambled eggs, instant oatmeal, and toast before moving to foods like chicken, fruits, and vegetables.

There are some foods that you should avoid following your wisdom teeth removal. Stick to the foods listed above for the first few days. Avoid the following foods for a week or more until the extraction site has healed.

• Acidic and spicy foods (including citrus juice) may cause irritation and pain.
• Alcoholic beverages can irritate the area and are likely to interact negatively with the pain medication prescribed by your doctor.
• Grains (including rice and quinoa) and any types of seeds can easily become trapped in the extraction site.
• Hard or difficult-to-chew foods (including nuts, chips, and jerky) can reopen the stitches and delay healing.

You should also avoid smoking or using any type of tobacco for a minimum of 72 hours after surgery as it can severely increase the risk of complications. Don’t use chewing tobacco for at least a week.

For the first 24 to 48 hours, eat only liquid and soft foods like yogurt, apple sauce, and ice cream. Cold foods may help with some of the discomfort.

As you start to feel better, you can try incorporating more solid foods. On the third day after surgery, try foods like eggs, toast, or oatmeal. Gradually continue to increase solid foods as chewing doesn’t cause any pain. If you experience pain when chewing, go back to soft and semisoft foods.

Many people are able to resume normal eating within a week.

Wisdom teeth removal complications aren’t common, but can occur. The most common complication is reopening of the extraction site, which delays healing.

Dry sockets

Dry sockets are also common. They occur when the blood fails to clot in the tooth socket, or if the clot becomes dislodged. This typically happens between three and five days after tooth removal. Dry sockets can be treated by your surgeon. They will flush out debris and may cover the socket with medicated dressing. Symptoms of dry sockets include:

• an unpleasant taste or smell coming from the socket
• aching or throbbing pain in the gum or jaw (it may be intense)
• exposed bone

Infections

Infections can be caused by food particles or other bacteria becoming trapped in the socket where your wisdom teeth were removed. Bacteria can spread throughout the body and should be treated quickly. Symptoms of an infection include:

• blood or pus from the extraction site
• fever
• spasms of the jaw muscles
• chills
• painful or swollen gums near the extraction area
• bad taste or smell in the mouth

Nerve damage

Nerve damage from wisdom teeth removal is rare, but it can occur. During surgery, the trigeminal nerve may be injured. The injury is most often temporary, lasting several weeks or months. Nerve damage can be permanent if the injury is severe. Symptoms of nerve damage caused by wisdom tooth removal include:

• pain
• numbness or tingling in the gums, tongue, chin, surrounding teeth, and lower lips

Allergic reaction

If you show signs of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention. You may be allergic to the medications your doctor prescribed, including your pain medication. Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• shortness of breath
• difficulty breathing
• feeling like your throat is closing or your tongue is swelling
• lightheadedness
• rapid heartrate
• skin rash
• fever

Tooth extraction surgery often leads to the continuous pain of varying degrees for several weeks which would require post-surgery medication and additional care from the patient’s side. While regular dosage of specific medicine is administered, a few natural remedies including use of clove oil, warm salt water, etc. often help in speeding up the process of recovery.

How to Heal Pain After Tooth Decay:

1. Clove Oil for Tooth Extraction Pain:

Clove oil is often used as a first aid when one encounters a severe toothache. It has Eugenol works as a naturally available anesthesia that numbs the nerves in your mouth. Since it has a strong odor and might lead to some side effects sometimes, Clove oil is not recommended for children. It should be used in smaller quantities by briefly dipping it on a piece of cotton/tissue and wiping it over the gums where one experiences the pain regularly.

2. Warm Salt Water:

Salt Water has historically been used as a natural medicine for a number of issues including tooth pain. Apart from its ability to stop the bacteria from breeding in our mouth, salt water also promotes healing and can be used post tooth decay surgery. It contains salts and minerals required by our body in the ideal concentration which helps in reducing the irritation caused in the mucous membrane present in the mouth. Salt water is, therefore, a regular recommendation by the dentists for a speedier relief from tooth decay.

3. Tea Bag for Extracted Tooth:

Post-tooth extraction surgery might be experienced with bleeding in the mouth. Tea bags are of great help to stop the bleeding. Tannins causes the blood to coagulate thus stopping the bleeding from taking place. Dentists often recommend black tea bag boiled in water for a few minutes to be used on the affected area for 5 minutes for relief. Tea bags also act as an antiseptic which helps in killing the bacteria and preventing the affected area from being infected.

4. Mouth Wash after Tooth Extraction:

The immediate hours and subsequent few days after the tooth extraction surgery can make one experience excruciating pain. It is advised to mouthwash during the first 24 hours after the surgery. One can avoid brushing the teeth for the first few weeks and ensure that he/she regularly uses mouthwash instead. Alternating it with the use of salt water every two hours for a week after the surgery would help in reducing the pain at a faster pace.

Dangers of Infected Tooth Extraction

An infected tooth extraction has a few dangers attached to it which can be avoided by taking conscious care on part of the surgeon. There can be a persistent pain, swelling and discharge of yellow or white infected liquid from the mouth. It might lead to a nerve injury which makes the mouth numb.

What Not to Do After a Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction pain healing often takes a few weeks depending on the severity and the personal recovery strength of an individual. To make sure one does not slow down the healing process some of the things one should not be doing post tooth extraction surgery include avoiding brushing in the pain area, avoiding lying flat and using a pillow to prop the head up and lessen bleeding, not to rinse, spit or brush forcibly. One should also shift from a diet of solid food items to more soluble food items such as yoghurt, soups and applesauce.

When to Brush Teeth After Tooth Extraction?

Brush teeth 24 hours after the tooth extraction however one should not brush the area affected by the surgery and resort to a mouthwash instead.

How Long Does it Take to Recover from Tooth Extraction?

The surgery though a bit painful helps one ensure healthy teeth. The post surgery pain usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks but might vary with the individual’s healing ability. The use of the various natural remedies that have been described above can in many cases speed up the process of healing.

Can I Smoke After Tooth Extraction?

The dentists strictly advice against smoking after any oral surgery. Since tooth extraction deal with a number of post surgery issues, smoking aggravates these issues and extends the healing time period. It is advised to quit smoking for at least the first five days as otherwise, it can dislodge the blood clot leading to a dry socket which is an infection that can occur in the empty tooth socket after extraction.

What to Eat and Avoid Eating After Tooth Extraction?

As mentioned earlier, one should avoid solids and only eat soft food items and in fact just liquids such as soup and juice in the first-week post surgery.

Can I Drink Alcohol After Tooth Extraction?

An important part of the healing process post the tooth extraction surgery is to ensure that you do not disturb or dislodge the clot formed as it aids healing. Drinking alcohol and smoking next to the extraction dissolves the clot and leads to a retardation of the healing process. It is therefore strictly advised not to drink alcohol at least for the first 72 hours after the surgery.

Can I Use Mouthwash After Tooth Extraction?

Yes, you can use mouthwash after tooth decay and it is preferable to use one as compared to brushing the sensitive area post surgery.

Severe tooth cavity requires the surgery of tooth extraction to take place. While the surgery ensures that your gums and tooth structure is protected from such cavity, the after effects of the surgery might make a few people daunted enough to never get the surgery done. However with regular check-ups, a series of recommended medication and regular application of the natural home remedies one can reduce the pain considerably and fasten the healing process helping one to cope up with the pain easily.

By: Redmond Signature Dentistry
July 10, 2019

Having a tooth extracted can be a stressful experience. But, the recovery doesn’t have to be! There are some practical steps you can take (and a few things to avoid) to make your recovery faster and more comfortable.

Just follow these dentist-approved tips, and you’ll be up and smiling again in no time.

What to expect after surgery

Knowing what to expect can remove a lot of the anxiety that can come with after-surgery care. Typically, a day after surgery, you may experience some pain and some swelling around your eyes and cheeks. This swelling can worsen for up to 72 hours after surgery.

To minimize any discomfort and swelling, apply an ice pack to your jaw for 20 minutes; then remove it for 20 minutes. You can repeat this a few times a day for the first 48 hours. (Tip: you can use a zipped plastic bag with crushed ice if you don’t have an ice pack.) After 48 hours, therapy with ice is no longer effective, so switch to using a heat pack to ease pain or swelling.

After wisdom teeth removal, you can also expect some bleeding for the first few hours. Starting 2 to 3 hours after your procedure, change the gauze at the surgery site every 30-60 minutes and help to control bleeding by biting down firmly on it. Continue this treatment until the bleeding stops. (If bleeding does not stop or worsens, you should contact your dental team for treatment instructions.)

What to do to help the healing process

Normally, it will take from two to four weeks for the socket (surgical site) to heal. To help this process along, here are some important things you can do:

Keep your mouth clean – It’s okay to carefully brush your teeth the night of your surgery, but wait until the next day to rinse your mouth. From then on, use a cup (8oz) of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt to gently rinse your mouth at least 5 to 6 times a day and especially after meals.

Take medications – Use any pain relievers prescribed by your doctor to control pain and keep you comfortable. Also, if your dentist prescribed antibiotics, make sure to complete the dosages as outlined.

Use a tea bag – No, not to brew you a soothing “cuppa.” Tea has tannic acid, which helps to contract blood vessels and reduce bleeding. Put a moist tea bag on the surgical site and bite down tightly for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Get lots of rest – It’s important to refrain from any physical activity for the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal. Elevate your head with some comfy pillows while resting and avoid sleeping on the same side as your extraction.

Resume your usual hygiene routine – After the first 24 hours, you can return to your normal brushing and flossing routine. Just remember to avoid the surgical area. At this time you can also resume wearing any orthodontic retainer you are using. If it causes discomfort, you can safely wait up to a week to begin your orthodontic treatment again.

Watch your diet – At first, eat soft and somewhat cold foods like smoothies, ice cream, yogurt, and pudding. You can gradually change to semi-solids like warm soup and then to solids after the first few days. Here are some great tasting and healthy recipes that will make your downtime more enjoyable!

What not to do after wisdom teeth removal

Now that you are relaxing comfortably and healing nicely by means of our tips above, there are a few things that you need to do to avoid derailing the recovery process.

Do not use straws – It’s vital not to dislodge the blood clot that has formed in the socket or you could experience a condition known as dry socket. Do not rinse your mouth too vigorously, suck on a straw, or drink carbonated beverages for the first 24 hours.

Do not smoke or drink alcohol – Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours after surgery and preferably not for the first week.

Do not blow your nose – This can be a hard one if you’re experiencing any nasal drainage or stuffiness. For the first 14 days, just gently wipe your nose without actually blowing.

Do not eat hard-to-chew foods – Foods such as cereals, nuts, or popcorn can be very difficult to eat after an extraction and may wound sensitive tissues. Wait for a week or so before you add them back to your menu.

By following these easy do’s and don’ts after wisdom teeth removal, you should be well on the way to recovery in just a few days after your procedure.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

While most of us end up getting our wisdom teeth removed at some point in time the fact that it’s a quick-and-forgotten event in our lives means that once it arrives, we don’t know what to do. In today’s article we will discuss getting your wisdom teeth removed. We’ll talk about what you can do before the process, what you should expect during it, and then go into how to keep your mouth clean after wisdom teeth removal for clean and healthy healing. Let’s talk about clean mouths and wisdom teeth removal!

Do I have to remove my wisdom teeth?

Despite it being a common procedure, you don’t always have to get your wisdom teeth removed. Sometimes they grow in fully and completely healthy and as such, there are no issues. Where problems can arise are when your wisdom teeth don’t grow in properly, resulting in teeth hidden under the gums, partially erupted from gums (which can attract a ot of bacteria), or if they don’t have enough room and begin impacting the alignment of other teeth when they are growing in.

How do I know if I need my wisdom teeth removed?

If an issue has arisen due to your wisdom teeth growing in then there are a number of symptoms which may occur. Ultimately your dentist is going to be the best judge as to whether or not you need your wisdom teeth removed, but here are some signs that you can look for:

• Tooth” />
• Cysts
• Damage to the teeth close to your wisdom teeth
• Gum disease

What should I do before I get my wisdom teeth out?

After an examination if your dentist determines that you will need your wisdom teeth removed, there is actually very little that you will need to do before the procedure. Brush and floss as normal in the morning and be sure not to eat anything before the procedure and you should be good to go!

How long should I take off work for wisdom teeth?

This is going to be up to you, however, people will generally take 2 days off (counting one day for the procedure itself) and some will go with 3 days just to play it safe. The procedure itself is much like other extractions, so there will be some things that you will want to do to take care of your mouth following a wisdom tooth removal. Let’s review a few of these.

What should I do AFTER I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed?

After a wisdom tooth removal there are a few rules that you will want to follow in order to help to ensure that you don’t accidentally damage the extraction area and to make sure that the area stays clean. Some good ‘ground rules’ are as follows:

• Saline rinses – A teaspoon of salt in a cup of water makes for a great rinse to keep your mouth clean. Rinse gently, 3 times a day, for at least the first 3 days.
• No spitting for a day or two – While your blood clot is forming in the extraction site, it is a good idea not to spit… the suction might dislodge your cloth. When you rinse with saline or mouthwash just dribble it out the first few days to avoid any cloth dislodgement.

” No exercise or any other activities that might strain the body.”

• Rest – When you get home, rest. No exercise or any other activities that might strain the body. Your mouth is healing and rest is the best thing for you right now.
• Ice packs are your friend – If you don’t like or don’t feel that you need pain medication, an ice pack is a great way to relieve mild pain without the use of chemicals.

What are other ways to keep my mouth clean after a wisdom tooth removal?

Some other ways that you can keep your mouth clean can be whipped up with things around the house. For instance, some mouthwash recipes that you can use:

• Aloe rinse – With 3 easy-to-obtain ingredients you can make an great homemade mouthwash. 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice mix together nicely and rinsing 3 times a day for 2 – 3 days can greatly accelerate your healing.
• Cinnamon rinse – 3 drops of cinnamon oil mixed with one cup of water makes for a great antibacterial rinse that tastes great too. Use 2 to 3 times a day for the next few days for best results (note, if you are sensitive and it burns a little then we recommend one of our different recipes. Cinnamon is not a perfect fit for everyone).
• Oil pulling -An old trick from India that many people swear by is oil-pulling. Swish a tablespoon of coconut coil for a period of 10 minutes to 15 minutes and then lightly dribble it out (no spitting until that clot is solid).

jarmoluk / Pixabay

Methods don’t have to be homemade, of course

Over the counter mouthwashes are great at what they do and generally are going to have a lot more benefits than homemade. Some have added fluoride, for instance, along with strong antibacterial properties to make sure that your mouth gets clean and minty fresh. Ask your dentist if you are not sure what might be the best for you, they generally have the scoop on all the best information when it comes to caring for your mouth after an extraction.

In closing

Today we have discussed getting your wisdom teeth pulled, what you should do before, what you can expect, and what you should do afterwards. Be sure to keep your mouth clean and brush very carefully when you get close to extraction areas, beyond this take advantage of homemade or over-the-counter mouthwash to ensure that your mouth stays clean. If you can do this, you’ll heal in a matter of days, likely two weeks tops. Hang in there, you’ve got this!

By Mawra
Post date

How to clean your teeth after wisdom teeth removal is a very important question that needs to be answered in 2020? Because if we will not follow the safety tips after wisdom teeth removal then it can cause many issues in the long end. Today we will not only tell about How to clean your teeth after wisdom teeth removal but also some other important tips as well.

After the wisdom teeth surgery, you must care a lot because any wrong act can lead towards dry socket and continues dull throbbing pain. So let’s know about how to clean your teeth after wisdom teeth removal in 2020. We will try to give all the answers here for your queries like can I use toothpaste after wisdom tooth extraction? Some people also ask when can I brush my teeth with toothpaste after an extraction?

Scared to brush teeth after extraction

If you are scared to brush then you must read this once. This is also for the person who asked I accidentally spit after wisdom teeth?

1. Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common dental treatment and when your wisdom teeth removed, you have to stop many things to avoid pain and swelling in the jaw as well as bleeding gums. If you will not follow the instructions you can get inflamed gums and dry socket as well.
2. After getting your wisdom teeth removed there are many instructions to follow but especially rinsing after the procedure is the main thing that you should avoid.
3. Normally you should wait for 3 days but you can start brushing and flossing after 24 hours on the other side of the mouth.
4. Remember do it very slowly as well as with deep care.
5. While during the first few days use a good mouthwash to rinse your mouth but do it slowly and carefully.
6. You can also start rinsing your mouth with salt water after 3 days as well.
7. It is good to brush their teeth on the first day after their surgery but
   doesn’t brush your teeth fast as it may affect the healing process and cause serious conditions like dry socket.
8. Moreover, you should avoid using straws as the process of sucking may dislodge the blood clot and cause over bleeding and pain.
9. The most important thing is to take soft food to avoid pain.

What to eat after wisdom teeth removal?

• Soups is one of the best food to take but shouldn’t be very hot.
• Yogurt but not very sour.
• Mashed Potatoes
• Scrambled Eggs
• Bananas
• Noodles with soup
• Ice Cream

Wisdom teeth removal recovery tips

1. Think about recovery before your surgery then goes for it.
2. After surgery completely follow all instructions.
3. Take rest and take soft food.
4. Rinse your mouth out with saltwater.
5. Use gauze and tea bags for the face.

Finally,

It is very important to know how to clean removed wisdom teeth in order to get fast recovery.

Medical Information, Health News & Tools.

• Home
• Women’s Health
• Undiagnosed Symptoms
• Stomach Problem
• smoking
• Skin Condition
• More.

• Home >
• Oral Health >
• Brushing Teeth After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

Pain and swelling, accompanied by a considerable amount of discomfort, can be expected after undergoing a wisdom tooth extraction. This is completely normal, and is in fact part of the body’s natural healing process. However, taking care of and brushing teeth after wisdom teeth surgery is very important. Infections are common in patients who do not keep their teeth and mouth clean after a medical procedure, and this can result in dry socket, which is the painful inflammation around the extracted tooth.

When Can You Start Brushing Teeth After Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

Although it is very important to maintain oral hygiene after dental surgery, you have to be careful about brushing because improper brushing may interfere with blood clotting or damage your stitches, which can lead to longer healing times or cause an infection. You can still start brushing your teeth gently the day after surgery. Only after three days of the surgery can you resume your regular brushing and flossing routine, and you should avoid brushing the area where you had your wisdom teeth extracted.

How to Brush Your Teeth After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

1. For 1-3 Days After the Surgery

During this period, be sure to brush your teeth carefully and slowly. Avoid irritating the sensitive surgery spot to avoid damaging the blood clots that protect the surgery site and reduce the chances of inflammation.

• When brushing teeth after wisdom teeth surgery, avoid using hard bristles and use only soft-bristled toothbrushes. Always use gentle, circular motions to brush your teeth.
• Gently rinse your mouth using saltwater or antiseptic mouthwash. Tilt your head to the side to let out the dirty water instead of spitting out as this can lead to damage to the blood clot.

2. For 3 Days After the Surgery

72 hours after your surgery is when you can come back to your regular dental hygiene regimen, but continue to exercise caution near and around the surgery site to avoid irritation.

• Be sure to brush your tongue as well to remove food and bacteria build-up which can lead to infection.

Recovery from Wisdom Teeth Surgery

1. Deal with the Bleeding

Because of the nature of wisdom tooth extraction, and the fact that the mouth has many blood vessels, patients might find that their wound bleed constantly after their surgical procedure. To address this issue, constant pressure on the bleeding site can be effective. You can use a clean and moist gauze, or a moistened tea bag to do this. Acids in tea help in the clotting process and can be used for small amounts of bleeding. What’s more, try not to suck on anything, and avoid hot liquids which may reduce the speed of formation of clots. You should always contact your dentist in case of long term and heav y bleeding.

2. Deal with the Facial Swelling

A chunk of ice wrapped in a piece of cloth can be applied on the swollen area for 10 minutes at a time, with each application followed by a 20-minute break. This will help to reduce the facial swelling that is common after a wisdom tooth extraction.

3. Take Pain Medications and Antibiotics

Pain killers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken if you experience minor pain. If you need stronger medicines, you can speak to your dentist about what is right for you. Besides, you should continue to take the antibiotics prescribed before tooth extraction to avoid infection.

4. Take Care of Your Diet

Brushing teeth after wisdom teeth surgery is extremely important, and you also need to pay attention to your diet. Avoid eating hard, chewy, hot, or spicy foods for at least one day after your surgery, because eating such foods increases the chances of getting food stuck in your tooth socket, leading to irritation of your wound. You should therefore only eat soft foods such as yogurt or applesauce for the first 24 hours. Also be sure to have plenty of water, and avoid alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated and hot beverages.

5. Avoid Smoking

For smokers, avoid smoking for at least 3 days after surgery, and wait even longer if you can. Chewing tobacco should also be avoided, but for at least 7 days. Tobacco products can delay the healing of your wound and can even lead to complications.

6. Keep Your Mouth Clean

Rinse your mouth with saltwater by mixing one teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Allow it to soak in your mouth before letting it drizzle out into your sink. Saltwater is known to promote healing and decrease irritation.

Top Articles

More Articles

Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common dental surgeries and can be associated with some painful memories for many adults. It seems like everyone has a story about their experience, whether it’s what crazy thing they said while the anesthesia was wearing off or what they wish they would’ve known about recovery before going under. To help keep recovery stories on the lighter side, we made a quick overview of what to expect after your wisdom teeth extraction and how to make your recovery as painless as possible.

What to Expect

The wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last adult teeth to surface, usually between the ages of 17 and 21. Wisdom teeth are not necessary for a healthy smile, and not everyone keeps them. If wisdom teeth do not grow in properly, which usually happens because they do not have enough room to emerge, they can create serious problems. When this happens, the wisdom teeth can crowd the mouth and cause future oral health problems like pain and infection.

According to the American Dental Association, people should have their wisdom teeth checked before the age of 20 to see how they are growing in and check for wisdom teeth impaction while the roots are developing. Your dentist or oral surgeon will most likely recommend that you have the final molars removed in a single outpatient procedure. Although wisdom tooth extraction is an outpatient procedure, it is considered a form of major surgery. During the surgery, general anesthesia or local anesthesia, will be used to make it more comfortable, but after it wears off, you can expect some discomfort and pain. Ask your dentist which type of sedation to expect so you can be prepared when you wake up from surgery, at which time recovery begins.

Taking Care of Yourself After Surgery

After your wisdom teeth removal, you can expect to have some pain, swelling, and light bleeding. Your dentist should tell you how to take care of your mouth after the surgery, but here are some of the most common suggestions for a healthy recovery.

• Be careful not to dislodge the blood clot form where your teeth were removed
• Avoid brushing, spitting, flossing, rinsing, or drinking from a straw for the first day of recovery
• Do not consume solid foods, alcohol, coffee, soda or hot beverages in the first few days after your surgery

Recovery Time

Wisdom teeth recovery usually takes three to four days. However, if your teeth were impacted, it could take as long a week to heal. Pain after wisdom tooth extraction usually lasts from 3 days to one week, unless you experience an infection or dry socket, which happens when the blood clot gets dislodged from the extraction site. You can expect swelling of the mouth and cheeks to go down in 2-3 days and the stiffness and soreness to go away in 7-10 days.

How to Speed Up Healing

There are plenty of things you can do to speed up healing during your wisdom teeth recovery.

• Take it easy for the first few days. In most cases, you can resume normal activities after the first day, but it would be best to wait about a week. You don’t want to do anything that could dislodge the blood clot from the removal site.
• Place an ice pack over your jaw to help with swelling. The cold from the ice pack helps reduce inflammation and the discomfort that comes with it.
• For pain management, you can take a prescription pain killer prescribed by your oral surgeon, or you can take a recommended over-the-counter pain reliever.
• After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with salt water a few times a day to help keep it clean and prevent infection.

Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid

Staying hydrated and eating healthy after your wisdom teeth removal is an important factor for a healthy recovery. However, you may need to change some eating habits for the first week or so following the procedure. Here are some foods to eat, and some to avoid, during wisdom teeth recovery.

Eat. For the first few days after surgery, start by eating soft foods that don’t require chewing, such as:

• Soup
• Yogurt
• Soft noodles
• Eggs
• Cottage cheese
• Apple sauce
• Pudding
• Mashed potatoes
• Smoothies (TIP: Don’t drink through a straw. It could dislodge your blood clot or ruin stitches.)

Avoid. Some foods can easily get into the sockets and in teeth and cause pain and damage to the healing wounds. Avoid eating foods like:

• Sticky candy
• Chewing gum
• Hard, crunchy food like chips, pretzels, nuts, and seeds
• Extremely hot food

Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a procedure you should take seriously but not something to fear. The recovery period usually takes a few days, and, in some cases, there may still be swelling and discomfort for a week or more. You can help reduce pain and prevent infection by using ice packs, enjoying soft foods, and keeping your mouth clean with salt water. Don’t hesitate to call your oral surgeon if you notice any unusual symptoms after your surgery. They will help get you on the road to recovery and back to a healthy and confident smile.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Your back molars, also known as wisdom teeth, are the last adult teeth to emerge in your mouth. They come in on the top and bottom of both sides, usually between the ages of 17 and 21. Many people don’t have enough room in their jaws to accommodate wisdom teeth without their other teeth shifting. This can lead to a variety of problems.

If this happens to you, your dentist will likely recommend surgery to remove them. Wisdom teeth removal is very common, and recovery can take up to a week, depending on your specific case. Recovery may take longer if your wisdom teeth are impacted. This means that they haven’t emerged from below the gums yet and aren’t visible.

Wisdom teeth extraction is an outpatient surgery, which means you arrive and leave the surgery center on the same day. If you get local anesthesia or sedation during surgery, you’ll probably wake up in the dental chair. However, if you’re given general anesthesia, it takes longer for you to wake up, so you’ll be taken to a recovery room. You might not remember how you got from the dental chair to the recovery room. Ask your dentist which type of sedation to expect.

You’ll slowly regain feeling in your mouth as you wake up from surgery. Some pain and swelling is normal. The first day of recovery will also include some blood in your mouth. You can start using an ice pack on your face as soon as you’d like. You’ll also be given instructions on when and how to take medications, either prescription painkillers or something over-the-counter.

You’ll be sent home once you wake up and feel ready. It’s a really good idea, if not mandatory, to have someone else drive you home. Your dentist might insist on it, especially if you undergo general anesthesia as you won’t be able to drive for an extended period of time.

You can eat very soft foods after surgery, but avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking. You should also avoid using a straw. This can lead to complications.

Most people fully recover from wisdom teeth surgery in three to four days. If your teeth were impacted or came in at an awkward angle, it could take a full week to recover.

The wound left behind after surgery won’t be completely healed for months, so you can still develop an infection weeks after surgery. Take care of yourself and pay attention to any signs of trouble.

You can resume normal, daily activities the day after surgery, but avoid any activity that could dislodge stitches or the blood clot over your wound. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

• strenuous exercise
• smoking
• spitting
• drinking from a straw

Some swelling, pain, and bleeding is normal after wisdom teeth removal. Call your dentist immediately if the pain or bleeding is excessive and unbearable.

Your symptoms should be greatly improved by the third day after surgery. All pain and bleeding should be gone within a week of surgery.

Some complications could be a sign of infection or nerve damage. Seek help if you experience any of these symptoms:

• trouble swallowing or breathing
• fever
• medication not effective at dulling the pain
• swelling that gets worse over time
• numbness
• blood or pus coming out of your nose
• bleeding that doesn’t stop when you hold gauze to it and apply pressure

It’s very important that you do a good job of caring for your mouth when you get home to avoid infections and complications. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you exact instructions on how to clean and protect your mouth after surgery. This might be the only time your dentist tells you not to brush, rinse, or floss for a whole day.

Common cleaning instructions include:

• Rinsing with salt water to keep the wound clean. Don’t spit the water out when you rinse. Instead, tip your mouth over the sink and let the water fall out.
• Gently dab the wound with gauze to absorb excess blood.

You should be able to go back to daily life a day or two after surgery. You’ll want to be very careful not to dislodge your blood clot or stitches for a week. Like any scab, the blood over your wisdom tooth hole protects and heals the wound. If the blot clot is disrupted, you’ll be in increased pain and at an increased risk of infection. When this happens, it’s called a dry socket. You can get a dry socket in just one or all of the wound holes.

Activities you should avoid during recovery include:

• anything that would dislodge your stitches or blood clot
• smoking
• spitting
• drinking from a straw

The main ways you can manage pain and reduce swelling are by using ice and taking pain medication. Ask your dentist for instructions on how often to use an ice pack on your face. Don’t put ice directly to your face, as this may lead to ice burn. They’ll also recommend whether to take prescription or over-the-counter medications.

You might also be instructed to take antibiotics while you recover. This is to prevent any infections while your mouth is vulnerable to germs. Be sure to take the full course of antibiotics as instructed by your dentist.

by Peter Mayhew | Jun 21, 2019

If you click on a link on this page and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

After your wisdom teeth have been removed by an oral surgeon or a dentist, it requires thorough post-surgery care to ensure that you get a speedy and full recovery. When it comes to the time it takes to heal from tooth extraction, everyone is different.

It usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks for your gum to heal fully following tooth removal. Until then, it’s common to have food-trapping in the open socket. These food trappings might cause bad breath and also delay the healing process.

Why Use Irrigation Syringe?

It’s possible to have holes after the extraction of lower wisdom teeth for longer than 30 days. In such cases, food particles getting trapped in the empty socket can become a problem.

Of course, you can reduce the chances of food particles getting trapped or accumulating in the empty hole by using the other side of the mouth when eating but if food-trappings are becoming a problem, your dentist may supply you with a small plastic irrigator syringe for rinsing out your mouth.

Dental infections can occur if those food particles stay trapped in the sockets. The syringe should be used after every meal and before sleeping at night to flush food debris from the wisdom tooth extraction site.

Using the Syringe

If the dentist feels you need to use a syringe after your lower wisdom teeth have been extracted, he will ensure it becomes part of your post-operative care appointment. Typically, you will be advised to start using the syringe on the 3rd day after the extraction.

Fill the plastic syringe with either salt water (1 tsp. of salt for every 8 oz. of water) or a prescription mouthwash such as Chlorhexidine. Using a mirror to look, insert the syringe’s curved tip down into the empty socket and push out the liquid from the syringe. Use 2-3 times daily or repeat as required.

It is important to ensure that the syringe tip is actually penetrating down into the socket when flushing the site.

Final Thoughts

It’s not mandatory that you get a syringe as part of your post-operative care. Sometimes, your oral surgeon or dentist may feel that using salt water will be sufficient for your particular case.

Generally, unless you have very severe cases of food trappings, rinsing with salt water does the trick and avoids the risk of infection or bad breath. A light rinse of mouthwash, preferably using chlorohexadine is good enough

Author: Peter Mayhew

Peter is a dental hygienist in the city of Chicago, IL. In his free time he likes to write blogs and product reviews on anything dental health related.

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located in the back of your mouth. They typically come in when you’re between 17 and 25 years of age. It’s common to have your wisdom teeth removed. They may need to be removed because they’re impacted and won’t come in normally. Or they may need to be removed because they’re coming in at a wrong angle.

During the removal procedure, you’ll be given anesthesia. Many surgeons will use some form of local, sedation, or general anesthesia. If your teeth haven’t come in yet, your surgeon will likely make incisions to remove them. They may need to remove bone if it’s blocking access to the root of the tooth. Once the teeth are removed, they’ll clean the site and add stitches to close the incision site if necessary. They’ll also place gauze over the extraction site.

What you eat following your wisdom teeth removal is important. Eating soft or liquid foods won’t irritate the extraction site, helping it to heal faster. Some foods and drinks can irritate or become trapped in the extraction sites, leading to infection. It’s important to follow your doctor’s orders about what to eat following surgery.

Immediately following your wisdom teeth removal and during recovery, you’ll want to start with liquid and soft foods. You won’t have to chew these foods, saving you some pain. Avoid eating harder foods at this time, as these might damage, or get trapped in, the recovering area.

Examples of liquid and soft foods include:

• apple sauce
• yogurt
• smoothies
• broths and blended soups
• mashed potatoes
• Jell-O, pudding, and ice cream

Cold foods like Jell-O, smoothies, and ice cream may relieve some discomfort. Nutrient-rich soups and smoothies can help promote healing. Soups in particular can help balance out the other high-sugar options on the list.

As you start to heal, you can incorporate more normal foods. Start off easy with semisoft foods like scrambled eggs, instant oatmeal, and toast before moving to foods like chicken, fruits, and vegetables.

There are some foods that you should avoid following your wisdom teeth removal. Stick to the foods listed above for the first few days. Avoid the following foods for a week or more until the extraction site has healed.

• Acidic and spicy foods (including citrus juice) may cause irritation and pain.
• Alcoholic beverages can irritate the area and are likely to interact negatively with the pain medication prescribed by your doctor.
• Grains (including rice and quinoa) and any types of seeds can easily become trapped in the extraction site.
• Hard or difficult-to-chew foods (including nuts, chips, and jerky) can reopen the stitches and delay healing.

You should also avoid smoking or using any type of tobacco for a minimum of 72 hours after surgery as it can severely increase the risk of complications. Don’t use chewing tobacco for at least a week.

For the first 24 to 48 hours, eat only liquid and soft foods like yogurt, apple sauce, and ice cream. Cold foods may help with some of the discomfort.

As you start to feel better, you can try incorporating more solid foods. On the third day after surgery, try foods like eggs, toast, or oatmeal. Gradually continue to increase solid foods as chewing doesn’t cause any pain. If you experience pain when chewing, go back to soft and semisoft foods.

Many people are able to resume normal eating within a week.

Wisdom teeth removal complications aren’t common, but can occur. The most common complication is reopening of the extraction site, which delays healing.

Dry sockets

Dry sockets are also common. They occur when the blood fails to clot in the tooth socket, or if the clot becomes dislodged. This typically happens between three and five days after tooth removal. Dry sockets can be treated by your surgeon. They will flush out debris and may cover the socket with medicated dressing. Symptoms of dry sockets include:

• an unpleasant taste or smell coming from the socket
• aching or throbbing pain in the gum or jaw (it may be intense)
• exposed bone

Infections

Infections can be caused by food particles or other bacteria becoming trapped in the socket where your wisdom teeth were removed. Bacteria can spread throughout the body and should be treated quickly. Symptoms of an infection include:

• blood or pus from the extraction site
• fever
• spasms of the jaw muscles
• chills
• painful or swollen gums near the extraction area
• bad taste or smell in the mouth

Nerve damage

Nerve damage from wisdom teeth removal is rare, but it can occur. During surgery, the trigeminal nerve may be injured. The injury is most often temporary, lasting several weeks or months. Nerve damage can be permanent if the injury is severe. Symptoms of nerve damage caused by wisdom tooth removal include:

• pain
• numbness or tingling in the gums, tongue, chin, surrounding teeth, and lower lips

Allergic reaction

If you show signs of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention. You may be allergic to the medications your doctor prescribed, including your pain medication. Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• shortness of breath
• difficulty breathing
• feeling like your throat is closing or your tongue is swelling
• lightheadedness
• rapid heartrate
• skin rash
• fever

Wisdom teeth, sometimes called third molars, may emerge in a person’s late teens, early 20s, or later in life.

A person’s mouth is usually not large enough to accommodate the four additional wisdom teeth.

As a result, wisdom teeth frequently erupt at angles, pushing against neighboring teeth or only partially emerging above the gumline.

Each of these issues increases the risk of the tooth becoming infected.

Below, we look into the causes and symptoms of a wisdom tooth infection. We also describe some treatments and home remedies.

Share on Pinterest Impaction, a cavity, and an extraction can each result in an infection.

Below are some common symptoms of a wisdom tooth infection:

• pain in or around the tooth
• pain in the jaw or the side of the face
• swelling or redness of the gums around the tooth
• bad breath
• difficulty chewing
• difficulty opening the mouth
• swollen lymph glands
• a fever
• if a dentist has removed the tooth, yellow or white discharge from the site of the extraction

Below are some possible causes of an infection in a wisdom tooth or the spot where it once was.

Wisdom tooth impaction

A wisdom tooth may emerge only partially above the gumline or emerge at an angle. Dentists refer to this as impaction.

Impaction may occur if there is not enough space in the mouth for the tooth to emerge fully, in a situation called overcrowding.

Food debris and plaque can accumulate around a partially erupted wisdom tooth, making it susceptible to infection.

The medical term for infection and inflammation around an impacted wisdom tooth is pericoronitis. According to a 2016 review, pericoronitis affects around 81% of people aged 20–29 years.

Cavities

A cavity in a wisdom tooth can cause it to become infected.

Because the wisdom teeth sit at the back of the mouth, they can be more difficult to clean than other teeth. Flossing around the wisdom teeth may be particularly difficult.

As a result, these teeth are especially susceptible to cavities.

Wisdom tooth extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction involves removing the teeth. It is a common procedure for treating or preventing problems caused by teeth that are emerging or partially erupted.

An infection can develop at the site of the extraction. A 2014 retrospective study found, for example, that 8.4% of people who had wisdom teeth extracted went on to experience minor complications, such as:

• infection
• bleeding after surgery
• temporary nerve damage
• dry socket, which occurs when a blood clot does not form at the site of the extraction

Pain in the teeth or gums may not indicate an infection. It can be a symptom of:

• gum disease, or gingivitis
• gum recession
• poor brushing or flossing techniques
• a cavity
• worn tooth enamel
• tooth grinding, or bruxism
• a cracked tooth
• worn dental fillings
• sinus problems

If tooth or gum pain lasts more than a few days, make an appointment with a dentist. They will work to identify the cause of the pain and recommend appropriate treatments.

A wisdom tooth infection sometimes leads to other health problems. Below, we describe some of these complications.

Cysts

A dental cyst is a sac of fluid that forms near a tooth, and a cyst may result from a wisdom tooth impaction or infection.

Over time, cysts can affect the roots of nearby teeth, and they may even damage or weaken the jawbone.

Severe or recurrent infections

A severe wisdom tooth infection can spread throughout the mouth, jaw, and upper respiratory tract.

In rare cases, the infection travels to the bloodstream. This is a serious health issue known as sepsis.

Many dentists remove wisdom teeth at the first sign of trouble to avoid the risk of severe or recurrent infections.