Many patients believe that getting their wisdom teeth out is a big deal. And while it is a milestone in their lives, the good news is that it is actually much less eventful than they ever imagined.
Without complications, a good oral surgeon should have you in and out of the office rather quickly. Then, you are all set to go home and begin the healing process.
To help you prepare yourself, here is a general timeline of when your wisdom teeth should heal after removal.
Immediately Following Surgery
Healing from having your wisdom teeth removed begins right after the surgery. Your dentist will place gauze pads or rolls over the surgical sites for you to bite down on. This will apply pressure to the area and help stop the bleeding. As the gauze becomes saturated, it can be replaced with new, fresh gauze that you will be sent home with.
You are still going to be numb from the local anesthesia so you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort at this point.
On surgery day, you will want to stick to a liquid diet, such as a broth that you can drink. However, do not drink it with a straw. Relax and take it easy for the next 24 hours.
Days 1 to 3 After Wisdom Teeth Removal
By this time, the numbness has worn off and you may be feeling some minor discomfort and could even encounter some swelling and bruising. Just know that this is the worst part of the recovery process and you should be on the upswing by day three.
Over-the-counter pain medication can help to ease any pain you may be feeling.
You can trade in your broth for soft foods. For instance, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, pudding, jello, and smoothies. You still want to take it easy and avoid overexerting yourself with strenuous activity, drinking out of straws, smoking, and anything else that may apply pressure to the surgical site.
Keep the area clean with gentle salt rinses. Also brush and floss your teeth to remove any harmful bacteria, careful to avoid the wounded area.
Days 4 to 7 After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Once you begin finding yourself nearly a week out from your oral surgery date, you will begin feeling much better. All the discomfort, swelling, and even the bruising will start slowly fading away. You can even include more solid foods back into your diet, such as pasta, macaroni and cheese, rice, salmon, and so forth. Continue to avoid chewy, tough, and crunchy foods for another week or so.
Now is the time when you can begin brushing as you normally would, being careful when cleaning the surgical site.
Two Weeks After Wisdom Teeth Removal
By the time you reach two weeks post-removal, you should be well on your way to healing. You are not going to be 100% healed yet, but you can start to feel a little more confident in the things you do, such as the foods you eat and brushing your teeth.
Expect there to be a bit of tenderness in the area as the extraction site continues to heal. But you won’t have to pay much more attention to it at this point.
Go ahead and return to your daily life.
Looking for Wisdom Tooth Removal?
At Rio Grande Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center we take every step possible to ensure our patients have the greatest success at healing after their wisdom tooth removal. Dr. Steel and his staff are always available to answer any questions you have before, during, and after your surgical procedure.
Ready to get started?
Contact us today at 505-821-2111. Or, request an appointment online.