Tips for Quick Recovery Post Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Listen and Follow all the instructions given by your oral surgeon carefully and religiously.
Make sure to bite on your gauze (pressure pack) piece placed in the mouth for at least 30-40 minutes. After this remove the gauze piece and discard safely.
Avoid vigorous mouth rinsing, Spitting, Brushing, drinking from a straw or touching of the wound area following the surgery for the first 24 hours as it may dislodge the blood clot and initiate bleeding.
Take all the prescribed medication meticulously, even if you don’t experience any pain. Do not self-medicate. If pain persists even after medications, be sure to call your doctor.
Ice application is must on the side the face where surgery is performed for the first 24-36 hours after the extraction to reduce inflammation.
Apply the ice pack for 15 minutes in every 15 minutes.
Slight Bleeding or oozing seen from the site of surgery is normal. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for 20-30 minutes. If bleeding still persists, contact your doctor for further instructions.
Swelling around mouth, cheek and sides of the face post-surgery is normal and expected. This is body’s normal response towards the surgery.
Subsequent and frequent Ice application on the side of the face where surgery is performed will help reduce the swelling for the first 24-36 hours.
After 36 hours stop the ice application and start with Moist heat application
Take soft diet and chew from the opposite side, avoid consuming solid foods and hot beverages for the first 24 hours post-extraction. Try to take cold diet like ice creams and cold coffees.
Make sure to stay hydrated.
Avoid consumption of alcohol, chewing of tobacco and smoking of cigarettes.
Maintain oral hygiene. Rinse the oral cavity with warm saline water 5-6 times a day post 24 hours of extraction. You can gently brush your teeth the following morning.
Numbness of lip, chin or tongue after the surgery is normal and can last up to 1-2 hours post extraction.
To minimize bleeding and to help in healing sutures can be placed at the site of extraction depending upon the patient and the case. Sutures are normally removed 7-10 days after the extraction
Try to exercise opening and closing of mouth as stiffness of jaw for few days is common post-surgery.
For any doubts and queries be sure to contact your oral surgeon.
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