Wisdom tooth extraction is one of the most common treatments carried out at dental clinics. At our Dental Clinic in San Sebastián we are specialists in this type of extractions. Here we explain what to do after a wisdom tooth extraction to help cure the surgical site and tell you what to do if you suffer discomfort of any kind.
The importance of following your dentist’s instructions
One of the most important things to do after having a wisdom tooth removed is to follow the instructions of the oral surgeon who took it out. He will have studied your case in depth and will therefore know exactly how to care for the site following surgery.
If you have any questions during the first few days, please feel free to contact us, we‘ll tell you what to do for speedy recovery.
Some of the most common guidelines are:
Apply pressure with a wad of gauze
After surgery, we place a little wad of gauze over the surgical site so that you can bite down on it to help to stop potential bleeding.
If the site is still bleeding an hour later, change the wad of gauze. If it doesn’t stop, come to the clinic and we will find a solution to the problem.
What can I do when the anaesthesia wears off?
The anaesthesia will stop the pain for around 3 hours. After that time, if you are in pain, we recommend taking Ibuprofen.
Taking medicine
If your surgeon has prescribed medication, normally in the shape of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory tablets, it is very important to follow their instructions.
Rest
One of the recommendations following wisdom tooth removal that most surprises patients is to avoid strenuous activity.
It is very important to rest and not to do exercise such as sports involving physical contact (football, basketball, rugby, etc.) or running, during the days following the extraction as otherwise it will take longer for the swelling to go down.
It is also important to sleep with your head slightly raised.
Don’t eat for the first few hours after the extraction
Try not to eat for the first few hours after the operation. Apart from the danger of contaminating the extraction site, your mouth will be frozen by the anaesthesia and you could bite yourself without realising it. In the days immediately after the extraction you should steer clear of very hot, crunchy or sticky food.
Don’t brush the area for the first few days
While you can brush the rest of your teeth, you should avoid the extraction site. One of the most important things to do after extraction is to keep the site clean. Since you can’t brush the area, you should rinse it with mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. This will keep the area free from infection.
Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
Both of these substances can hinder the healing process. Alcohol intake must be avoided when taking medicine. Smoking too hinders the healing process and can slow your recovery, meaning that you should smoke as little as possible.
If you have any questions on how to care for your mouth after having a wisdom tooth removed, please feel free to ask us. We’re here in San Sebastian to help you. Call us!
