Wisdom teeth removal is an incredibly common procedure, and it is often important for preventing complications with the rest of your teeth. Because wisdom teeth removal often requires surgery, most people need several days to recover, and it may take up to 2 weeks for them to fully heal. That’s not a lot of time, but it can certainly feel like it when you’re in the midst of it.
You deserve to have a full and speedy recovery, so below, you will find some tips on how to recover after you have had your wisdom teeth removed.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep is essential for your body to heal, so take the time to get lots of it. In addition, you should limit any kind of physical activity for several days. Exercise will increase your blood pressure and may cause bleeding at the extraction site when you need to develop a clot instead.
- Drink lots of water. Make sure to avoid dehydration by drinking enough fluids. Drinking water will also help you prevent infection in your mouth. However, remember not to use a straw, since that can dislodge a blood clot.
- Rinse with salt water. Using salt water to rinse your mouth helps to remove bits of food that may get stuck in the extraction site. It also helps with the healing process.
- Use pain medication. Some people avoid pain medication because they think they are strong enough without it, but medication like Ibuprofen can reduce your pain significantly after wisdom teeth removal. Don’t forgo medication if you don’t have to.
- Follow your dentist or oral surgeon’s instructions. Your dentist or oral surgeon is a professional, so don’t ignore their advice and explicit instructions for recovery.