Sleeping Must Be Done Elevated Following any type of oral surgery, including a tooth extraction, you should sleep elevated for the first 2-3 nights. This allows your body to drain more of the fluid away from the extraction site.
By reducing pain and swelling, you can heal quickly and properly, and avoid serious consequences. Following oral surgery, getting plenty of rest is essential for ensuring proper healing.
How long do I have to sleep elevated/keep sitting up after wisdom tooth removal? Elevated sleeping is recommended for the first and second day of surgery. Sleep with your head elevated for at least 72 hours or until the bleeding has stopped.
During the initial stages of healing, the tooth extraction site may ooze. Because of this, sleeping on your side is best, at least for the first night. Plus, if you lie flat on your back, you might experience more swelling. That could increase your pain and make resting an even greater challenge.
Bleeding should continue for up to 24 hours
It is normal for bleeding to exist for up to 24 hours after the tooth extraction. However, the bleeding should be minimal and tolerable, and excessive bleeding that causes a major distraction or that causes major discomfort that is not tolerable is a concern.
Your body is using energy to heal itself, so you may feel more tired than usual – this is perfectly normal.
Sleeping on your back is necessary
You'll need to sleep on your back for at least a week after the initial procedure.
In most cases, walking and light physical activity is encouraged after the first day. This will also help with swelling and help get patients back into their normal routines. Depending on the procedure, patient should avoid vigorous physical activity for 3-5 days.
Some patients who undergo tooth extraction may want to take a day off from work just to make sure they can rest well and address the immediate side effects of the procedure. Other patients may not need to spend a day recovering and will be able to return to work the next day so long as it is not physically demanding.
You should try taking it easy for at least 1-2 days after the tooth extraction. When you are resting or sleeping, try to lie down so that your head is above your heart. This will lower your blood pressure and help control bleeding.
It is advisable to use an old pillow case as not to damage your favorite ones. Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink. Do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth. Pay special attention to the placement of the gauze , making sure it is over the surgical site and not just between the teeth.
During the recovery period, the temporomandibular joint and soft tissues in the mouth can swell. This can also make your mouth feel odd or misaligned. Once the swelling dissipates, your bite should return to normal again.
It is normal for your gum to continue to bleed for an hour or two after a tooth was extracted. However, if the area starts to bleed excessively, it may mean your body has a problem forming a blood clot. If that happens, contact your dentist. They can let you know if there is a problem with the site of the extraction.
Gauze placed against the wound will draw blood from the clot and this, likewise, is not a sign of bleeding. Place an old towel over your pillow for the first night to reduce risk of staining. If the bleeding persists, contact the office.
You should drink plenty of water after your tooth extraction to keep the extraction site clear and prevent infection. Remember to not drink through a straw, though, since the sucking motion can disturb the extraction site.
Factors that can increase your risk of developing dry socket include: Smoking and tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes or other forms of tobacco may prevent or slow healing and contaminate the wound site. The act of sucking on a cigarette may physically dislodge the blood clot prematurely.
Many people are not aware that what they eat can affect healing after an extraction. It is recommended to eat food that does not pose a risk of leaving remnants behind. This includes nuts, popcorn, rice, and pasta. These types of foods can dislodge blood clots from extraction sites and cause dry socket.
Dry socket may be caused by a range of factors, such as an underlying infection in the mouth, trauma from the tooth extraction or problems with the jawbone. The condition occurs more often with wisdom teeth in the lower jaw than with other teeth. You are also more likely than others to develop dry socket if you: smoke.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent and you'll be able to see bone. For this reason, dry sockets usually appear white.
Usually, the patient can take out the gauze three to four hours after the tooth extraction. By this point, a clot should have formed, stopping almost all bleeding. Some patients become concerned after seeing what looks like a large amount of blood immediately after the extraction.
Do NOT: Overexert yourself. Take it easy so your body can use its energy towards recovering. Keep physical activity like running, lifting heavy objects, or bending over to a minimum. All of these activities could potentially damage or dislodge your blood clot.
After extraction, having an aching jaw for a day or two should be a cause of concern even after a complicated procedure. Have a check-in with your dentist for treatment. Throbbing or radiating pain that painkillers cannot manage. The pain could result from a dry socket that exposes the nerves.