8 Tips for a Fast Recovery after Removing Wisdom Teeth

Easy ways to speed up your recovery after having your wisdom teeth extracted.

By Dr. Stephanie Vera, DDS

If you're reading this post, you're either recovering from wisdom teeth removal or preparing for the procedure. First, congrats on taking care of your oral health! Second, don't worry - I'm here to give you some tips on how to recover quickly and with ease.

After your wisdom teeth are extracted, your dentist or oral surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your mouth while you recover. It is both normal and expected to have some swelling and discomfort after your wisdom teeth are extracted, and for fast healing you should follow those instructions and these tips:

1. Prevent Dry Socket

The most important thing you can do to speed up your recovery is to prevent dry socket. Dry socket happens when the blood clot that forms over your extraction site comes out or doesn’t form properly. Dry socket happens 2-3 days after treatment and may increase your risk of infection. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you post-op instruction to minimize your risk, but here are some additional guidelines:

• Don't soak new gauze pads in water before placing them on the extraction site

• Avoid drinking through a straw, smoking, or any sucking action

• Don't rinse your mouth vigorously

• Don't remove the gauze until you're ready to replace it

• Eat soft and/or liquid foods (nothing hard, spicy, or very hot)

• Take antibiotics before and/or after surgery (as prescribed)

• If you take estrogen-based birth control, it's recommended that you have wisdom teeth extracted during days 23-28 of your cycle to reduce the risk of dry socket

2. Reduce Inflammation

Controlling inflammation after wisdom tooth extraction is key to controlling pain. Inflammation is highest after 48 hours, so it's important to continue taking anti-inflammatories through day 2, even if you feel fine immediately after the extraction.

For the first few days after the procedure, it also helps to keep your head elevated and to use ice packs. You can use pillows to help raise your upper body while you sleep, or to positioned yours shoulders above the level of your heart while lounging.

Cold compresses can help reduce swelling and inflammation. By icing consistently for the first day and a half, you may reduce pain and swelling for the rest of your recovery time. The most effective method is to ice for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, as much as you can during the first 1-2 days after surgery.

3. Stay hydrated

Your mouth will be sore after your wisdom tooth extractions. Depending on how tender you are, you may be tempted to breathe through your mouth. This will cause dry mouth and increased your risk of infection. You can use a moisturizer like Biotene gel to help keep your mouth healthy while you recover.

Drinking coconut water can hydrate and nourish your body and soothe inflammation of your gums as they heal from surgery. It helps to keep blood sugar stable and replace electrolytes while you're unable to eat solid foods, which is great for speeding the healing process.

4. Maintain good Oral hygiene

It's important to keep your mouth clean after surgery to prevent infection. For the first 24 hours after the procedure, do not brush or rinse your mouth. After that first day, you can go back to normal brushing and start to gently rinse with warm salt water several times a day. The salt water will reduce gum inflammation and keep your surgical site free of debris.

5. Rest as Much as Possible

Post-op discomfort can make it difficult to rest or get into deep sleep. However, the more you can rest, the better chance your body has at healing fast. After your surgery, it's important to take it easy for a few days. Avoiding strenuous activity, will help your body heal faster and reduce any swelling or soreness.

6. Be Mindful of your Diet

For the first few days after your surgery, stick to soft foods like soup, mashed potatoes, and smoothies. Avoid anything crunchy or hard that could irritate the surgical site. In addition to sticking to soft foods, it's important to eat healthy to give your body vitamins, nutrients, and fuel to heal. Try incorporating foods like leafy greens, lean protein, and healthy fats into your diet.

7. Don’t Overuse medication

Narcotics like hydrocodone frequently lead to side effects like nausea and vomiting. Vomiting in particular, may increase your risk of infection and slow the healing process. Not to mention, they are highly addictive. If you dentist or oral surgeon gives you a prescription for these types of pain relievers, it is best to only take them when you need them and in the lowest dose needed.

Due to the new FDA guidelines and prescription monitoring systems in place, it is possible your dentist or oral surgeon may not even give you narcotics and will instead use an alternate prescription with the added benefit of helping minimize inflammation. This will depend on how complicated your treatment was.

8. Massage Your Jaw

Jaw soreness and stiffness, known as trismus, is common after a long dental procedure - especially wisdom tooth removal. You can help loosen the muscles used to open and close your jaw with a massage. To do this, place two fingers about one inch in front of your ear and gently massage in a circular motion.

How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth removal?

Most people recover from wisdom teeth removal in 3-4 days, but depending on how complicated your treatment was, it could take up to 1 week for soreness and discomfort to be completed gone. Swelling and bruising may last up to 2 weeks, even once you are feeling better. To better understand how your body will recover, here is a timeline of the healing process after wisdom teeth extraction:

First 24 hours: Blood clots forms at the site and healing begins. The numbness will wear off and pain and swelling begin. Fatigue and nausea are common, especially after sedation.

Days 2-3: Swelling goes down. Pain usually begins to subside. If you get dry socket, it is most common 3 days after the procedure.

Days 4-7: Severe pain should be gone and swelling should be minimal. Jaw stiffness may still linger and bruises may come to the surface. You can resume normal activities and return to work around day 4. Stitches, if required, can be removed around day 7.

Days 8-10: Soreness and stiffness in the jaw should go away.

Days 11-14: Brushing should fade.

Weeks 3-4: Wisdom tooth sockets close as gum tissue heals over the extraction site.

Months 3-6: The surgical site and surrounding areas should completely heal as the bone fills in under the tissue.

When to Call Your Dentist

If you experience any of the following after wisdom teeth surgery, contact your dentist/surgeon immediately:

• Excessive bleeding that doesn’t stop or slow within 4 hours after treatment

• Throbbing pain that doesn’t go away with medication

• Oozing pus

• Difficulty swallowing or breathing

• Fever and chills

• Pain that spikes 48-72 hours after the extraction

• Nausea or vomiting

Recovering from wisdom tooth surgery doesn't have to be a painful or stressful experience. By following these tips, you can speed up the healing process and get back to your normal routine in no time. And remember, if you have any concerns or questions don't hesitate to reach out to your dentist. We're here to help!

Dr. Stephanie Vera is a general dentist practicing in Murphy, Texas. She is a graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry and believes education and prevention are essential to a happy, healthy smile.