Having wisdom teeth removed is a surgical procedure. It is quite normal to experience some pain after a wisdom tooth removal.Make sure to always follow any instructions given to you by the oral surgeon. This can help minimize unnecessary pain and complications that can occur from an infection. While you wait for your mouth to heal, there are some ways to manage the pain.
How Long Will this Last?
If everything goes as planned and you are careful to follow the instructions given to you by the dental professional, it should take about two weeks until you recover fully. It is normal to experience some pain after a wisdom tooth removal.
Managing the Pain
After your wisdom teeth removal by Waterloo dentists, it is normal to have mild to moderate pain for a couple of days. For most people, over the counter medications like Tylenol or Ibuprofen will help keep the pain at a minimum. Be certain to refrain from taking any medication you are sensitive or allergic to. The dentist typically prescribes pain medication as well. This can be taken if the OTC medications are not enough and the pain is severe. However, be aware that the prescription pain medication can make you drowsy or groggy. Since it slows down the reflexes you will not be able to drive or operate machinery if you take it.
It is highly likely that pain will begin once the anesthetics start to wear off. You might ask the oral surgeon if they would recommend taking a prescription pain med right after surgery to help keep the pain from getting too severe too quickly. Most dental professionals suggest taking them for the first couple of days as prescribed to help ward off pain.
In most cases, the pain after surgery will peak after 3 to 5 days. After this, the pain should become less every day. Most people only experience pain from 7 to 14 days following surgery. By two weeks the pain should have totally subsided.
Will it hurt to eat?
After your wisdom teeth have been removed you may want to only drink liquids for the rest of the day as the sedation medications can cause nausea. Remember to not use a straw, as the sucking motion can dislodge a blood clot. Drink plenty of liquids and resume eating regular foods as your appetite returns.
When should I call the dentist?
Each day following your wisdom tooth removal the pain should be a little better. But if the pain seems to be getting worse instead, make a call to your dentist. Other reasons to call the dentist include:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying pressure
- Throbbing or severe pain 3 to 4 days after the surgery
- a fever that is elevated and won’t come down
- swelling that continues to get worse
Trust your dentist to get you through the surgical procedure without any complications. Make sure to call if you are concerned or have unexplained symptoms that do not get better each day.
