After your wisdom teeth are removed, it will take about two weeks for your mouth to heal completely. During that time, you must follow your dentist’s follow-up instructions. They recommend not smoking, drinking alcohol, using a straw or chewing hard food during this time. Ultimately, you need to handle your mouth carefully while it heals.
In the United States, an average of 10 million wisdom teeth are removed each year. This is one of the most common dental procedures performed in much of the world.
Most people have their wisdom teeth or third molars removed due to overcrowding. There is not enough space in your jaw to accommodate your posterior teeth without damaging your other teeth. Some people do not need the procedure, but dentists generally recommend it as a precaution if teeth begin to enter. The third molars are composed of four adult teeth located at the back of the mouth, aged between 17 and 25 years. That is why they are so often called wisdom teeth – because young adults, not children, develop these teeth.
It is believed that the early hominids needed wisdom teeth because of the roots, leaves and uncooked meat they ate frequently. As soon as our human ancestors started cooking, we no longer need them. Today, the structure of our jaws has changed so much that we are often unable to accommodate these teeth. That is why most people remove wisdom teeth.
For many people, wisdom teeth cause pain when it occurs, and that pain usually suggests that it is damaging the surrounding teeth. Your dentist will tell you if these teeth need to be removed. Therefore, it is important that you have regular dental checkups throughout your life.
Most dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth early, when the roots are half full, up to two-thirds formed. It is easier if they are removed at this point. However, some people removed them later in life for several reasons.
Ask your dentist if you need to remove wisdom teeth if you have:
Removing wisdom teeth is almost always an outpatient operation, even if you are under general anesthesia. Your periodontist or general dentist can usually perform the operation, but an oral surgeon may be necessary in some cases. Depending on the complexity of the operation, the procedure should not take long. In cases where the teeth are affected, surgery can be more complicated.
Once the effect of the anesthesia wears off, you can go home and recover. You cannot drive, so you will need a friend or family member to drive home. You may need stitches, although this is becoming less and less common. Many dentists use detachable points. In some cases, you may have traditional stitches, although this is rare.
Your dentist will likely recommend medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to relieve pain and swelling. You can also receive a prescription for a specific pain reliever to control more severe pain, a few days after surgery. The swelling and pain disappear quickly, although you may still feel tender or sore for a few days after the most acute pain has passed. Wisdom tooth removal is a common surgery, so the two-week healing process is well understood and you should follow the dentist’s follow-up instructions to avoid setbacks.
Since most people remove wisdom teeth immediately and are under general anesthesia, the healing process can take longer than other teeth removal procedures. It usually takes two weeks for your mouth to heal after surgery.
On rare occasions, you can develop a condition called a dry socket. This is a painful condition caused by loosening or dissolving the blood clot. This will expose the root and bone under the area where the gums must heal. You can see the bone in the empty pan, but severe pain is the main symptom. If you notice this, talk to your dentist. If you notice that the pain is getting worse or does not go away, tell your dentist right away. This can also indicate that there is an infection that requires antibiotics.
Your dentist will tell you how to take care of your mouth after the procedure. However, you can take some additional steps at home to help with the healing process.
Some bleeding in the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery is normal. You will need to change gauze frequently until the bleeding subsides and eventually stops. You cannot brush, rinse or floss the first day after surgery. After that, you can return to a smooth version of your oral hygiene routine. When starting to brush, use a light hand.
Limit eating, drinking and talking for the first two days after the procedure. As soon as the bleeding stops, eat soft, warm food and drink enough water. A balanced diet and good hydration will help you feel better and make a good recovery. You can keep the wound clean with a special mouthwash. Your dentist may prescribe some, or you can find them at a pharmacy. Ask your dentist which brand they recommend.
You can also rinse with a mild saline solution. Mix salt in warm, not hot, water. This solution can also relieve sore gums. Support your head at night. This can prevent blood from building up in your head, which will reduce pain and swelling when you wake up.
In addition to the dentist’s instructions for aftercare, there are other home remedies that you can try to help with the healing process.
Many people remember eating a lot of ice cream or mashed potatoes while recovering from wisdom teeth removal. You may only need to eat soft, tasteless foods for a few days after this process.
Hard or chewable foods can interfere with the healing process. So, avoid apples, carrots, seeds or nuts, dried fruits, gum, sticky sweets, chips and pretzels. Avoid spicy and spicy foods. After the first week, you can start to slowly reintroduce some foods. Wait for your mouth to heal completely to obtain very crunchy, tasty and sticky foods.
If the pain does not subside in the days after the procedure, call your dentist. After two weeks, your mouth should be completely healed. Otherwise, contact your dentist to determine what is hindering the healing process.
Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common dental surgeries. It may take up to 2 weeks for wisdom teeth to be completely removed. Proper wound care can help a person to heal as quickly as possible. Wisdom teeth are large teeth that grow at the back of the mouth. Most people’s wisdom teeth come out between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people may not have wisdom teeth.
Sometimes, there is not enough space in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to move into the correct position. You can tear the gum at an angle or just partially come out. When this happens, they are known as affected wisdom teeth and can cause problems such as pain or infection. The time it takes to remove a wisdom tooth depends on the tooth and the difficulty of the operation.
Some people may need stitches to close the wound. The dentist usually removes the sutures after about 1 week. Sometimes, the surgery causes bruising, swelling and pain, which also take time to heal. Recovery from wisdom tooth surgery will be gradual, but people should see improvements every day.
The recovery time is different for each person. If blood clots come out of the wound or the wound becomes infected, recovery may take longer.
Blood clots form where the tooth was removed. Blood clots are an essential part of the healing process because:
It is especially important not to remove these clots for the first 24 hours. People should avoid:
It is a good idea to gently rinse your mouth with a mouthwash after 24 hours.
People should consult their dentist or surgeon about how to help with recovery. They must provide clear information about the medication to be taken and the steps taken to promote a cure. The advice may include biting a gauze pad in the extraction area for 30 minutes. A dentist or surgeon may also suggest using an ice pack in the first few hours after surgery. Holding an ice pack outside the face over the area of the extraction site for 15 minutes and turning it off for 15 minutes will reduce discomfort and swelling.
People cannot drive for 48 hours if they have been in the hospital for surgery and have received general anesthesia. If possible, it is a good idea to take 1 or 2 days off or go to school after the operation.
It is important to keep the wound clean while it heals. Since people still need to eat and drink, it is easy for food to get stuck in the area where the tooth was removed. This can make cleaning the wound area somewhat difficult.
In addition to the pain, some people feel tired after removing wisdom teeth and may choose to stop moving for a few days after surgery.
Eating soft or liquid foods can help prevent injuries. Some examples are:
In the first few days after surgery, avoid foods that need to be chewed, such as: B. Sticky sweets or chewing gum when they stick together and cause pain and damage to wound healing. Also, avoid hard and crunchy foods such as chips, pretzels, nuts and seeds, as well as spicy or spicy foods. If one or two wisdom teeth have been removed on the same side of the mouth, it may be possible to chew on the opposite side of the mouth after 24 hours.
When wisdom teeth emerge in adulthood, the other teeth are already inserted in the mouth. Often, there is not enough space in the mouth for four large teeth to arrive. When a tooth passes only partially through the gum, food can easily get caught between the tooth and the gum. These teeth can also be more difficult to clean, which can cause infections or cavities.
However, wisdom teeth can cause problems, even if they run through the entire gum. If they grow at an angle, they can rub inside the mouth or on the gums. They can cause pain when pressing on other teeth. Visiting the dentist regularly in adolescence and early adulthood means that the dentist can keep an eye on the development of wisdom teeth and see if there are any problems.
With proper follow-up, recovery usually takes about 2 weeks. Sometimes, a person can develop an infection and needs antibiotics. Symptoms of infection include pain, swelling, yellow or white pus around the wound, and high temperature.
There is little risk of developing a disease known as a dry socket. This can happen if a blood clot does not form or is pushed away from the wound. A dry foundation causes a strong, throbbing pain. The dentist usually needs to cover the wound with a bandage. Complications are unlikely after wisdom tooth surgery with proper follow-up. If someone experiences severe pain, bleeding, fever or other unexpected symptoms, they can see a doctor or dentist.
