Pain and discomfort after wisdom teeth removal. Tips for a quick recovery.

You already know that wisdom teeth are the four teeth that come in at the very ends of each dental arch (two teeth on top and two on the bottom). They tend to grow through the gums during the late teen or early twenties (17 to 25), although some people never have their wisdom teeth come in.

There are cases in which the teeth erupt at a younger age and in others they come in much later. But what is certain is that wisdom teeth often pose a series of problems when they grow through. They can be obstructed or emerge at an angle, and misalignment is the main reason wisdom teeth are removed; local anesthesia is used and the surgery is usually painless. However, if the tooth only partially emerges (impacted), the dental specialist will need to cut the gum to remove the tooth.

Recovery may last one to two weeks after wisdom teeth are removed. Most people heal easily after having their wisdom teeth removed, and although there are a series of complications that may occur (as they can with most operations), most are mild and go away quickly.

Today’s post covers the most common complications after wisdom teeth removal and the best way to alleviate them.

Let’s go!

Most common complications after wisdom teeth removal

• Nausea and vomiting. You might vomit or feel nauseous; this is your body’s response to anesthesia.
• Blood. You may experience bleeding from the empty wisdom tooth socket several hours after tooth extraction. Bite down firmly on a clean piece of gauze placed over the socket for about 30 minutes to stop bleeding.
• Fever.
• Numbness of the mouth. This usually lasts no more than a few hours.
• Bruising on the cheek may occasionally be experienced.

Healing tips and preventing complications after wisdom teeth removal

Below are a series of tips to help you heal and avoid the complications listed after you have wisdom teeth removed:

Keep up proper oral habits, mainly in the area where the wisdom teeth were pulled.

Take the medication prescribed by the maxillofacial specialist. These will primarily be anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and analgesics for pain.

Reduce the risk of infection by rinsing your mouth with warm water every two or three hours the day after the extraction.

Eat a bland, soft diet until the wound has healed completely.

Have your wisdom teeth come out? Do you need help or advice about the extraction treatment? Contact us through our contact form and make an appointment to come to our dental clinic in Barcelona!