1. Immediate Post-Surgery
Immediately following surgery, the gauze pad should be kept in place for 30 minutes. After this time, you can carefully remove and discard it. You need to avoid vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area to prevent dislodging the formed blood clot. We suggest taking prescribed or OTC pain medication before you begin to feel discomfort. When you get home, place ice packs on the side of your face where the tooth was extracted to reduce the risk of swelling. You should restrict activities on the day of surgery and resume them when you feel able and comfortable enough to do so.
2. Bleeding
Slight redness in your saliva, oozing or bleeding is fairly common after wisdom tooth extraction. If you experience excessive bleeding, first rinse or wipe old clots from your mouth, then place a gauze pad over the area, bite down firmly for 30 minutes and repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. Tannic acid in the tea bag contracts bleeding vessels, which helps new clots to form. To minimize further bleeding, sit upright and avoid exercise or any other strenuous activities. If bleeding doesn’t subside, call our office for further instructions.
3. Swelling
Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is your body’s normal reaction to surgery and recovery. Typically, you won’t experience swelling until the day after surgery, and it will typically peak two to three days after surgery. As mentioned, immediate use of ice packs can minimize swelling. While you’re awake, apply the ice packs for 20 minutes, leave them off for 20 and repeat this process. After 36 hours, ice has no beneficial effect on swelling, therefore you should discontinue its use. After this timeframe, application of moist heat to the sides of your face can further reduce any swelling.
4. Pain
For moderate pain, take one or two tablets of acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol) every three to four hours, or 200 mg of ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin or Advil) every four to six hours. For severe pain, take the tablets we prescribe to you, as directed. Prescription pain medication can cause grogginess and slowed reflexes, so don’t drive an automobile, work around machinery or drink alcoholic beverages. Don’t suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position, as this can cause dizziness.
Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside gradually every day. If it doesn’t, this could be a sign of “dry socket,” a painful condition that is more common with extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. If postoperative pain in and around the extraction site increases in severity one to three days after extraction, this may be caused by partial or total disintegration of the blood clot from the tooth socket. If you experience this symptom, call our office right away!
5. Diet
The day of surgery, don’t use a straw, as this can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. Drink a minimum of five to six glasses of liquid daily (except iced tea) to avoid dehydration. The first few days after surgery, we recommend eating only soft and highly nutritious food (e.g., protein shakes). Try to maintain a healthy diet and don’t skip meals to ensure you’re receiving nutrients required for proper healing.
6. Oral Hygiene
As mentioned, you shouldn’t rinse with anything until the day following surgery, but you can brush your teeth the night that you’re home from surgery, provided you rinse gently. The day after surgery, rinse your mouth a minimum of five to six times a day (especially after eating) with a cup of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt.
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