Making Recovery Easy: How to Handle Wisdom Tooth Aftercare

As with any major dental procedure, patients tend to be a little bit nervous before a wisdom tooth extraction. Thankfully, there’s plenty to console you if you’re in this position. Millions if not billions of people have had their teeth extracted; the procedure is routine, safe, and painless.

People also tend to fret about aftercare. If you’re concerned, it may help you to keep in mind a few tips that can make your recovery easier. Here are a few things you may want to remember when you’re going through the process of aftercare.

Managing Gauze

Immediately after the procedure, you’ll need to keep the gauze in place for a half hour, at which point it will need to be discarded. A little blood is typical for the first few days, though if it becomes excessive you may need to place another piece of gauze on the wound and clench it in place for around 30 minutes. This pressure should be solid but consistent, as chewing or gnawing on the gauze will only agitate the wound.

Protecting the Surgical Area

One of the most important aspects of extraction aftercare is protecting the surgical wound. The crucial thing is to be gentle, as chewing aggressively or playing with the wound will only slow down your recovery.

You should also stay away from anything that could create suction in the mouth, like straws or smoking. This can pull the clot covering the wound out of place, creating an uncomfortable condition known as dry socket. This exposes the bone and nerves underneath the wound, substantially delaying the healing process (as well as making the process much more uncomfortable.

Managing Discomfort

Speaking of, you may be fairly sore in the first few days after your wisdom tooth surgery, and a big part of aftercare is managing this discomfort. A lot of this comes from protecting the wound well, and from keeping the above tips in mind to make aftercare expedient.

In addition to this, you should take either prescription or over-the-counter pain medicine as directed by your dentist in order to make the process of care more comfortable.

About the Author

Dr. Jason Kaopua has over two decades of experience in his field, and his passion for his work grows each day when he sees the smiles of his patients. He’s wanted to be a dentist since he was nine years old, and loves being able to come to work every day and live his dream. Dr. Kaopua received his degree from Oregon Health & Sciences University and has completed a variety of advanced education courses in the years since.

If you have any questions about wisdom teeth extractions, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (425) 267-3333.