What You Should Know About Recovering From Wisdom Tooth Surgery

When you have surgery, you need to know what to expect. Having your wisdom teeth removed is a surgical procedure. Though not difficult or uncommon, it is still important for you to know what will happen after you get home. Here are some of the side effects you can expect to have after you have wisdom teeth removal surgery.

Minimal Discomfort

After wisdom tooth surgery, you can expect to have some degree of discomfort. You will receive a prescription for pain medication to help with the pain. After a few days, the pain should devolve into just a slight bit of discomfort. If you still feel pain or if your pain increases, you should see your dentist as soon as possible to make sure nothing is wrong. It is possible to get an infection after surgery. This will be painful if you do not get on top of it right away.

Mild Bleeding and Swelling

You will have some minimal bleeding after you have your wisdom teeth removed. The bleeding is temporary but is necessary for proper healing. The bleeding will help form a blood clot in the place of the removed teeth. Your dentist will have you keep gauze in your mouth to help control the bleeding.

You should also expect some swelling after the extraction. Your face will be puffy for a few days after the surgery. You can use ice packs to help control the swelling. Place the ice packs on your face for a few minutes several times a day. After a few days, begin to alternate ice packs and a heating pad to help further control the swelling.

The Feeling of a Locked Mouth

You might find it difficult to fully open your mouth after wisdom tooth surgery. This is normal and will eventually go away as you heal. If you find this uncomfortable, you can apply a heating pad or warm compress to the area.

Many people fear getting their wisdom teeth removed. However, it is a common procedure that has greatly evolved over the years. If your wisdom tooth removal goes as planned, you should have very few abnormal side effects. Be sure to follow your dentist's recovery instructions to ensure you heal completely. Should you experience major pain, or fever, or if your symptoms do not improve within a few days, be sure to contact your dentist as soon as possible. If you have an infection, you will need a round of antibiotics to heal.