For many people, the wisdom teeth or the third permanent molars often make their appearance during the late teens or early twenties. When one or more of these wisdom teeth become impacted or painful, dentists often recommend surgery to remove them. While this surgery is common in Singapore, many patients still have questions about wisdom tooth surgery recovery. Here is a guide on what to expect after wisdom tooth surgery.
Recovery Timeline
Although the exact recovery timeline varies depending on each individual’s condition, here is a general estimated timeline that you can expect post-wisdom tooth surgery:
- A few hours after surgery: A small amount of bleeding is common. Patients should avoid rinsing their mouth rigorously to avoid disrupting the blood clotting process.
- Days 1–3: Patients may experience mild discomfort and swelling as a normal response to all surgical procedures. You may also experience pain, jaw stiffness, and restricted movement of the mouth, along with sore and cracked lips. Swelling is usually more pronounced on the second to third day post surgery.
- Days 3–5: Patients may notice that the swelling and tenderness starts to subside. Some bruising or skin discolouration around the cheeks and jaws may also occur, and in some cases extend toward the neck.
- 1–2 weeks: The gum tissue continues to heal, with a recovery pace that may differ depending on the surgery complexity.
Wisdom Tooth Surgery Aftercare Tips
Remove gauze after your surgery
• After wisdom tooth surgery, you may still be under the influence of the local anaesthetic. Avoid sucking or chewing on your lip and cheek despite feeling numb, as it can cause bruising and ulcers. Apply pressure on the wound by biting on the gauze for 2-3 hours. The gauze should be placed directly over the socket.
• If you are still bleeding, you can replace the gauze and bite it firmly for another 15 minutes, and repeat if needed. Your dentist will advise you on how to replace the gauze in more detail. Make sure not to eat, drink, or sleep with the gauze in your mouth, and place a towel over your pillow at night to prevent possible blood stains on your pillowcase.
Apply a cold compress
Since swelling tends to be the worst during the first three days of wisdom tooth surgery recovery, patients are advised to apply a cold compress to your face in intervals to help manage the swelling. You can also alleviate the pain with ice packs.
Maintain good oral hygiene
Maintain oral hygiene by rinsing with the mouthwash prescribed by your dentist. Avoid brushing around the wound initially until after the first week.
Avoid intense physical activities
Get enough rest and avoid intense exercise for the first 2-5 days post-wisdom tooth surgery as they may trigger bleeding and delay the recovery process.
Do not smoke or drink too much alcohol
This may affect wound healing.
Complete the course of any prescribed antibiotics
If your dentist prescribes any antibiotics, take them as directed and complete the full course. While it is not always a routine, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent bacterial infections for vulnerable patients.
What Can I Eat After Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
Immediately after your surgery, you are advised to consume soft, cold, and non-spicy foods such as soups, porridge, ice cream, and yoghurt to help with the healing process. Drinking with a straw is also not recommended as it may disturb the blood clotting process. You can slowly transition to harder textures and eat on the non-surgical side after a few days. Gently rinse your mouth with water after every meal to prevent leftover food particles from remaining in the empty tooth socket.
FAQs About Wisdom Tooth Post-Surgery
Is pain normal after wisdom tooth surgery?
Yes, some pain and discomfort are normal after a wisdom tooth extraction and surgery in Singapore. As every patient’s pain tolerance is different, the pain may seem minor and manageable to one, and more significant to another. However, the pain may naturally subside in a few days, and can be managed with pain relief medication recommended by your dentist. If you notice that your pain does not improve or is extremely unbearable, do get in touch with your dentist for a further consultation.
Is bleeding normal after wisdom tooth removal?
Bleeding post-wisdom tooth surgery is common to some degree. In general, the bleeding should stop within 4-8 hours after surgery. However, oozing may still occur for up to 36 h and is generally not a sign of concern. If a lot of bleeding suddenly happens, you can apply pressure with a rolled gauze pad over the extraction site and bite down hard on the gauze for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
When should I contact a dentist after wisdom tooth surgery?
Contact your dentist if your pain worsens or persists beyond the normal recovery timeline, or if you experience heavy bleeding. Similarly, get immediate medical attention if you experience increased facial swelling after the 4th day, fever, chills, or pus discharge from the extraction site.
Are complications common after wisdom tooth surgery?
Complications after wisdom tooth surgery are generally uncommon, and most patients may experience a smooth recovery. Uncommon complications include a dry socket (alveolar osteitis), which happens when a combination of blood clot dislodgement and food trap takes place and causes severe pain and slower healing. Some other possibilities include an infection and temporary or numbness or tingling in the tongue, lip, or chin due to nerve damage. Permanent numbness to the tongue and lower lip and chin is a rare complication and is the dependent on the proximity of the nerve to the wisdom tooth. Your dentist will go over the exact surgery procedure steps, recovery timeline, and possible risks of complications with you before your procedure.