Wisdom teeth are the last molars to form above the gum line. Although they play an important role in chewing, wisdom teeth do not always erupt properly. This can result in complications and long-term pain. If wisdom teeth do not completely emerge from the gums or if they are impacted, an extraction or a wisdom tooth removal procedure should be strongly considered.
What Types Of Extraction Are There?
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Simple Extraction
Simple Extraction is the most common type of tooth removal. Your dentist will numb your mouth with an anesthetic, then remove your tooth while you’re unconscious. The process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how many teeth are being removed at once and the condition of your gums. This extraction procedure is most often used on the canines, incisors, premolars, and first and second molars.
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Surgical Extraction
Surgical extractions are usually needed for teeth that are impacted or stuck in the jawbone, like wisdom teeth.
What are Phases for Healing Process?
The healing process can be divided into the following phases:
- First 24 Hours: Blood Clots
- 2-3 Days: Swelling in the Mouth and Cheeks will improve.
- 7 Days: The dentist will be able to remove the remaining stitches.
- 7 to 10 Days: The stiffness and pain in your jaws should disappear.
- 2 Weeks: Any bruises you have should heal.
How To Speed Up Healing?
You’ll likely feel more comfortable after the first few days post-surgery. In most cases, you can go about your normal activities after the first day. However, it is better to wait about a week before doing anything that could potentially remove the clot from the removal site.
To relieve swelling, place an ice pack over your jaw. The cold of the ice pack will reduce inflammation and the associated discomfort.
You can take an analgesic prescribed by your oral surgeon or an over-the-counter pain reliever for pain control.
After the first day, rinse your mouth with salt water a few times a day to keep it clean and prevent infection.
What To Pay Attention To
Certain things can make your healing process longer. These include:
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Smoking
Smoking is not recommended after your wisdom tooth removal because it can cause bleeding and pain. Smoking also increases the risk of gum disease, which is the main reason why most dentists advise patients to stop smoking before having a tooth pulled.
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Certain Medications
Certain medications like blood thinners can make your gums bleed more than usual. If you take these medications, talk to your dentist about how you can manage them after your wisdom tooth removal.
Some Complications Could Be A Sign Of Infection Or Nerve Damage
If you are experiencing some of these complications, there are chances that you might be dealing with an infection or nerve damage:
- Having trouble while swallowing or breathing
- Medication not proving effective and lowering your pain
- Swelling gets worse with time
- Numbness
- Fever
- Blood or pus coming out from your nose
- Applying pressure isn’t able to stop your bleeding
What Food To Eat And Foods To Avoid After The Tooth Removal?
The healing process for wisdom teeth removal is very similar to that for other teeth, but you should do some specific things differently to speed up the healing process.
You can’t eat anything that contains sugar or has a lot of acids, such as citrus fruits and soda. The soft foods you can eat are yogurt, soup, applesauce, pudding, or mashed potatoes. You should avoid hard or crunchy foods like popcorn, ice cream, and raw carrots. Here is the detailed list of the food you can eat and avoid after wisdom tooth removal.
You should avoid coffee and tea because they contain caffeine. Caffeine causes the blood vessels in your gums to expand and may cause bleeding if you have stitches and sutures in your mouth.
Visiting Your Dentist
We hope you enjoyed our article about wisdom teeth. We know that wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain and distress, so we are happy to have provided some information on how to take care of them. Whether you are looking for a dentist or have any questions, we hope that you will contact us at 978-607-0110. We would be happy to help you find a solution.
Get rid of your dental problems. Make an appointment with Coral Dental Care today.
Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental community with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.