Extraction of wisdom tooth and pain

Wisdom tooth extraction is associated with pain, swelling, and discomfort as the natural healing process. How long does it take for the wisdom tooth pain to subside? How long does it take to recover? When can one eat carrots and chewy foods?

Wisdom tooth pain during the extraction

Wisdom teeth, known as third molars, are the last molars that grow. They are extracted due to improper roots and inadequate growth space. They are not also necessary for a healthy and beautiful smile. Improper growth of wisdom tooth can damage the area. Third molars usually grow between the ages of 16 and 20, and there may be not enough space for their growth, leading to teeth crowding and consequently infection, pain, and tissue damage.

According to the American Dental Association, the teeth should be checked in terms of wisdom teeth growth or decay before the age of 20. If necessary, a qualified dentist or a skilled maxillofacial surgeon can extract the final molars in an outpatient surgery under local anesthesia to prevent pain or discomfort. However, pain and discomfort occur after surgery, when the anesthesia vanishes. The recovery period begins as soon as the wisdom tooth is extracted.

Instructions after dental surgery

After dental surgery, pay attention to the following points:

• Keep this sheet for a week and review it once a day.
• Squeeze the sterile gauze in the operated area firmly with your teeth for up to 4 hours.
• Then gently remove the gauze, rinse your mouth with cold water, and drink cold fruit juice or eat ice cream.
• Try to talk less the first night, especially in the first 4 hours
• Blood may leak from the area for two days making the saliva red.
• Avoid using straws for drinking liquids and spitting for two days.
• Avoid heavy works and lowering the head for two days.
• Avoid hot foods and eat cold or lukewarm foods for two days.
• Avoid exercise, swimming, and sauna for two days.
• Avoid smoking for two days and take light drags in the first week.
• Avoid touching the surgical site and the sutures with your tongue.
• Eat nutritious meals and plenty of fluids between meals.
• Eat soft food and avoid chips, nuts, and similar snacks.
• Breakdown of the stitches does not impose a problem.
• Raise your head slightly when sleeping for two nights.
• Oral hygiene is essential in the first week after surgery.
• Brush the whole mouth except the operated area from tomorrow.
• Avoid brushing your teeth tonight and rinse your mouth with normal saline irrigation before sleeping.
• Use chlorhexidine and benzydamine mouthwash every eight hours from tomorrow.
• Gently rinse the surgery site with a chlorhexidine-containing syringe.
• Take your medications exactly on time, as mentioned on the back of this sheet.
• Put an ice pack on the face for ten minutes every ten minutes for 24 hours.
• From the day after tomorrow, apply a warm, moist compress on the face for 20 minutes every 20 minutes.
• Use a hot water bag on your face if there is swelling and bruising.
• The mouth may open difficultly, which will be relieved after using a hot water bag.
• The mouth may smell and taste bad for about a week.
• Call the office if swelling or pain increases from the fourth day after surgery.
• Continue your medications for other medical problems.
• The sutures should be removed after a week at the clinic.

Contact the office for any questions or problems.

Pain after wisdom tooth extraction

Some swelling is normal after wisdom tooth extraction. Do not retain the blood in your mouth; clean the area with a mouthwash prescribed by the dentist, and avoid manipulating the surgery site and the sutures.

The pain after wisdom tooth extraction cannot be precisely estimated, but it can be predicted according to two fundamental factors:

Pain tolerance by individuals: Pain tolerance depends on the physiology of people. For example, some people have little pain and do not need to use a simple painkiller after surgery. On the other hand, some people have a very low pain tolerance and cannot endure the pain of wisdom tooth surgery and a simple headache.

If you are among the latter group, ask your dentist to prescribe a suitable analgesic, the use of which can relieve pain and inflammation in the first hours after wisdom tooth extraction and before the pain peaks.

Extent of surgery: There are different types of wisdom teeth surgery and extraction; the greater the work area, the higher the pain and inflammation, which can be controlled with appropriate painkillers prescribed by the dentist.

Recovery after extraction of wisdom tooth

Avoid solid foods, alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, and hot beverages in the first few days after surgery. Wisdom teeth heal in 3 to 4 days and sometimes in up to a week.

The recovery period can be minimized by performing some simple steps; for example:

Use an ice pack to reduce inflammation which ultimately decreases pain.

Avoid strenuous activities that may result in re-bleeding of the wisdom teeth.

Use a mouthwash or a saline water solution.

کشیدن دندان عقل و ارتودنسی

Sometimes there is not enough space to align the teeth through orthodontics. In these cases, a wisdom tooth can be extracted as the best option to increase the space needed for orthodontic treatment. The jaw is usually small in these patients, which results in misaligned and crowded teeth. Extraction of wisdom tooth provides space in the dental arch, and the orthodontist can then align the teeth with orthodontic appliances. As a result, the teeth can be aligned through wisdom teeth extraction and orthodontics.

Note that the irregular overcrowded teeth due to insufficient space are more prone to decay.