How Long is Wisdom Teeth Recovery? – Wisdom Tooth Surgery Recovery Tips
If you’ve never suffered with wisdom tooth pain before then think yourself extremely fortunate, as it is one of the most painful and debilitating conditions you’ll ever suffer from.
Each year, many wisdom teeth are removed by dentists all over the globe, and while the procedure is indeed designed to eradicate pain and discomfort caused by wisdom teeth, the recovery process is not always pleasant.
Your wisdom teeth are located at the back of your gums and are the final set of teeth to develop and find their way through. Ordinarily, people will have four wisdom teeth, with one tooth located in each corner of the mouth. Usually, your wisdom teeth will not come through until you’re in your late teens or early twenties.
If your wisdom teeth become infected, have decayed, are growing horizontally rather than vertically, or simply crowd your mouth, this can lead to severe pain and discomfort. As a result, wisdom teeth removal may be the only treatment option to relieve the pain and prevent further problems from arising. But how long does it take to recover from wisdom tooth removal, and how can you speed up the process?
How long is wisdom teeth recovery?
If you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted for any reason, the thing you must remember is that recovery is not instant, and that there are variables to consider.
In most cases, it can take anything from a few days up to a couple of weeks to recover from wisdom teeth removal surgery. Some people however, may recover sooner, and some may take longer to recover.
The good news is that there are things you can do to speed up the recovery process.
How to recover from wisdom tooth extraction
If you’re wondering how long it takes to recover from wisdom tooth removal, you’re likely worried about the pain and discomfort this procedure can cause and you’ll likely want to speed things up.
If you have recently had your wisdom teeth removed, or if you’re going to, here’s a look at how to recover from wisdom tooth removal surgery much quicker:
Place ice on your jaw
After wisdom teeth removal, you will almost certainly experience some pain and discomfort. One of the most effective ways to deal with pain and swelling caused by the surgery is to use ice.
If you place an ice pack on your jaw and cheek after the wisdom tooth extraction procedure, this will bring swelling down very quickly and will also reduce the risk of bruising and make bruises less prominent.
After the surgery, apply an ice pack to the part of your jaw where you had the tooth/teeth removed and leave it there for 15 – 20 minutes. Never apply ice directly to the skin as this can result in frostbite. After 15 – 20 minutes, remove the ice pack, leave for 40 minutes, and repeat the process again if necessary.
Use prescription pain relief
After wisdom teeth extraction, you may find that your dentist prescribes you with pain relief medication.
Although you don’t need to use this pain relief, if you are in pain you should use what your dentist prescribes. If the prescription medications prescribed to you are not helping in relieving the pain, you will need to speak to your dentist as they may be able to prescribe you with something stronger that will work more effectively.
Keep your mouth clean
If you allow bacteria that lives in your mouth to accumulate, it can potentially find its way into the open extraction site where your tooth was, and that is the last thing you want as this could lead to an infection known as a dry socket.
If your dentist allows you to brush your teeth on the day of the wisdom tooth extraction, be sure to brush very gently and avoid the open cavity. Do not use mouth washes as they’re too strong and will cause a lot of pain and sensitivity until the area has healed.
After eating a meal, use a simple mouth wash made with warm water and a little salt, give your mouth a good rinse, and you’re all set.
Eat soft foods
Another simple, yet very effective tip when it comes to recovering from wisdom teeth removal surgery is to ensure that you only eat soft foods.
Avoid hard and crunchy foods and instead, only eat foods which are soft and easy to chew.
Eating healthy, nutrient rich foods will speed up the recovery process and help you to heal much quicker.
If you have any questions or concerns about recovering from wisdom teeth surgery, please talk to one of our friendly and experienced team on (08) 9349 3006 to book an appointment with an experienced dentist or oral surgeon.
