It is important to keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, making sure that the socket is kept clear of all food and debris. Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket.
In general, the hole in your gums will take between 10 days and three weeks to heal completely and your jaw bone will take around three months. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to minimize your discomfort during the healing process and to help your gums heal faster!
Due to stretching of the mouth during surgery, your lips may dry out and crack – especially at the corners. A sore throat and pain when swallowing are not uncommon due to swelling and inflammation of the nearby muscles or some of the medications used for I.V. anesthesia. These issues will subside in two or three days.
It is best to stick to soft foods requiring minimal chewing, such as applesauce, yogurt and pudding. Vitamin C and vitamin A help to support the healing process following a tooth extraction. Therefore, it is a good idea to eat foods rich in these nutrients.
To ensure proper healing on your tooth extraction site, avoid the following foods: crunchy, spicy, hard and chewy candy, acidic foods and drinks, alcohol and smoking. These foods can irritate and prolongue the tooth extraction healing socket.
Don't drink with a straw, suck on candy or ice pops, slurp soups or other liquids, rinse your mouth vigorously, or smoke for 24 hours. These things create suction in the mouth. This may dislodge the blood clot. Don't drink alcohol or use mouthwash containing alcohol for 24 hours.
You should not feel pain during the procedure but you will feel pressure and hear noises. If any stitches are needed these will dissolve in about 2-4 weeks. Keep the area very clean while it heals - your dentist will tell you how best to do this. What should I expect afterwards?
While it is normal to experience some pain after having multiple teeth removed, we do our best to help minimize discomfort in the hours and days following the procedure. This may include the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications.
To reduce your risk of developing dry socket, stay away from coffee for a few days after getting your tooth removed.
Most people feel mostly pain-free by the third or fourth day. Some swelling and soreness can continue throughout the first week. Throbbing pain during the first 24 hours after your extraction is likely just a sign that your body is healing.
It is expected that swelling levels will peak 24-48 hours after the procedure. While it might stick around for a few days, it shouldn't get any worse. If you find that the swelling is continuing to worsen after three days, this could be the sign of an infection and you should call your oral surgeon.
The general rule after having your teeth extracted to get dentures is to wait between three to six months.
How Long after Tooth Extraction Can I Drink? You can simply drink normal water after one or two hours but if you are looking to drink any soda, acidic drink or an alcohol, you must wait for at least a week after tooth extraction.
Bread is typically tough to chew after wisdom tooth removal and you are generally recommended to avoid any foods that could get stuck to your surgery site. Crackers and breads are notorious for getting stuck on teeth and stuck in the mouth and that can only cause trouble post oral surgery.
How many teeth can I have extracted at once? There is no limit to the number of teeth you can have extracted at once. While having multiple teeth extracted during the same procedure is rare, it is sometimes the only option for patients with severe tooth decay.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract.
Pain After Tooth Extraction
If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then 1–2 tablets of regular Tylenol® should be taken every 4 hours.
Post-Operative Instructions
Immediate dentures are removable temporary dentures that were placed during your extraction procedure. Please keep the denture(s) in your mouth for the first 2 days and nights, removing them only for cleaning after 24 hours, unless otherwise specified by your dentist.
It's usually recommended that you take a day or two off work after having a wisdom tooth removed. You won't need a sick note from your doctor or dentist for this.
Within the first 24 hours after tooth removal surgery, you should avoid consuming anything that involves chewing. Try to limit yourself to liquids exclusively. If they don't fill you up and you want to consume solid food, go for soft meals that don't need much chewing, like pudding or oatmeal.
Always sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights after the wisdom tooth extraction surgery. If you struggle to put yourself in that position, get support from a few pillows. Keeping your head elevated at a 45-deg angle while sleeping ensures faster recovery. It also minimizes swelling in the surgical area.
No Eating Before the Surgery
Generally speaking, you should avoid eating anything for 12 hours prior to the surgery. This can help prevent nausea during and after the procedure. If you are having a local anesthetic, you may not need to fast as long so be sure to inquire before the treatment.
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, patients should avoid vigorous physical activity for 3-5 days.
Dentists can advise people on the length of time they should refrain from drinking alcohol after tooth extraction. They may suggest avoiding alcohol for at least 24 hours after the procedure to allow the tissues to heal and recover.