If you have an upcoming wisdom teeth removal procedure, you may be wondering how many days you will be out of your normal schedule. Continue reading to learn the expected recovery time for wisdom teeth removal. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced dental team.
What can I expect my recovery time to be?
You can expect your recovery time after wisdom teeth removal to be three to four days. However, if your wisdom teeth were impacted, this could increase your recovery time to about a week to heal. You may experience discomfort or pain after wisdom teeth extraction for three days to one week. If you experienced an infection or dry socket, which happens when the blood clot is dislodged from the extraction site, you may experience discomfort for longer. The swelling in your mouth and cheeks will last about two to three days while the soreness will go away after seven to ten days.
Can I speed up the recovery process?
While you are healing after your wisdom teeth extraction, there are a few ways you can speed up the process to heal more quickly. First, you should take it easy for the first at least three days. It is best to wait a full week to resume normal activities. Exercise caution to avoid doing anything that could dislodge the blood clot from the removal site. Next, you should take prescription pain killers that were prescribed by your oral surgeon, or you can take a recommended over-the-counter pain reliever to get some relief from the discomfort. It is also important that you ice your jaw to help with swelling and reduce inflammation. After your first day of recovery, you should practice rinsing your mouth with salt water a few times a day. This will keep the mouth clean and prevent infection from occurring.
What should I avoid after wisdom teeth removal?
To expedite the recovery process, it is also important to recognize the “don’ts” to avoid while you heal. You should avoid brushing, flossing, rinsing, drinking with a straw, and spitting for the first day of recovery. It is also important that you avoid consuming solid foods, alcohol, coffee, hot beverages, and soda in the first few days after your wisdom teeth removal. Each of these actions can risk dislodging the blood clot from where your teeth were removed and causing complications and further recovery.
Contact The Dental Associates of Basking Ridge
Dental Associates of Basking Ridge is a compassionate, gentle, and professional state-of-the-art dental practice serving Basking Ridge, Morris & Somerset County. Our office is always ready to greet our patients with a smile, take the time to answer any questions, and provide the quality dental services our patients expect. Please contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!
