Wisdom Teeth Removal Aftercare

Immediately Following Surgery

• The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept for half an hour. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded. Repeat as necessary until the bleeding has subsided. Oozing may continue off and on for one to two days.
• Vigorous mouth rinsing and touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided as this may initiate bleeding or cause discomfort.
• Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anesthetic becoming diminished.
• Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
• Place ice packs on the side of your face.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by rinsing or wiping old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for thirty minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for thirty minutes. The black tea’s tannic acid helps form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, call our office for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 2-3 days after the operation. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. The ice packs should be left on continuously while you are awake. After 48 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Forty-eight hours following surgery, applying moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling.

Pain

For moderate pain, an adult may take one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 3 grams (3000 mg). Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken four times daily. Do not exceed 3,200mg daily. Consult our practice for individuals under 18.

For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic to them or have been instructed by your doctor not to take them. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If the pain persists, it may require attention, and you should call the office.

Diet

After IV sedation, only liquids should be consumed. Drink from a glass, and do not use straws. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. You may eat anything soft by chewing away from the surgical sites. A high-calorie, high-protein intake is essential. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss any meals. You will feel better, have more strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster if you continue to eat.

CAUTION: You may become dizzy if you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position. If you are lying down following surgery, sit up for one minute before standing.

Keep the Mouth Clean

No rinsing should be performed until the day following surgery. The day after surgery, you should begin rinsing at least 2-4 times daily, especially after eating, with a teaspoon of salt mixed into one cup of warm water.

Discoloration

In some cases, skin discoloration follows swelling. Black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days postoperatively. Moist heat applied to the area may help minimize the discoloration.

Antibiotics

If antibiotics are prescribed, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Discontinue antibiotic use in case of a rash or any other unfavorable reaction, and contact our office immediately. Call the office if you have any questions.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on tea or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over fifteen minutes. You can eat solid foods and the prescribed medicine when the nausea subsides.

Other Complications

If numbness occurs, there is no cause for alarm. As reviewed in your consultation, this is usually temporary. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation.

A slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.

You should be careful when going from lying down to standing. You could get lightheaded from low blood sugar or medications. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute before getting up.

Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls that support the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously. If not, they can be removed.

If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.

Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.
Stiffness (Trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event that will resolve in time.

Finally

Sutures are placed in the area of surgery to minimize postoperative bleeding and to help healing. Sometimes, they become dislodged. This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. The sutures will generally dissolve within one week of surgery. The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery.