“With wisdom teeth comes your maturity.” Gibberish!
Wisdom teeth pop up as your body matures but you will certainly mature or develop intelligence with your experience, age, and learnings. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 85% of wisdom teeth that erupted are eventually removed. Therefore, let’s understand wisdom teeth or wisdom tooth in detail.
What are wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, popularly known as third molars, mature anywhere between the ages of 17 to 23 or 25. Large teeth generally four in number, appear at the back side of the lower and upper jaws.
In ancient times, ancestors found it necessary to have these teeth since a major chunk of their diet was raw meat, crunchy leaves, and hard nuts. All of these are hard to chew, and that is where a wisdom tooth or wisdom teeth serve the purpose. However, in today’s era, the methods of food preparation and consumption have eliminated the need for these teeth.
As a result, they were considered vestigial, meaning they were once noticeable and necessary. Now, having them doesn’t make a difference.
What is Wisdom Teeth Removal?
A common dental surgical process that is undertaken to extract your grown molars. A lot of people develop impacted wisdom teeth, which means that the wisdom tooth or wisdom teeth have erupted partially in any direction or it may not erupt at all.
As a result, your teeth might hurt regularly, develop infection or disease, or even give rise to complications for other orthodontic treatments, and thus wisdom teeth removal is necessary.
Coming to the surgical portion of it. Local anesthesia is given to numb the gums and teeth followed by the exposure of impacted wisdom teeth through incisions. Once the cut is made and the teeth are visible, your surgeon or dentist will loosen and then extract them from the sockets. The last step is to clean and stitch the operated area.
How to Prepare for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
For your wisdom teeth removal, you will be referred to an oral surgeon. He/she will analyze your oral health and will make you go through a dental x-ray to determine the exact position of your wisdom teeth.
Once the discussion about procedure, medications, and sedation is done, make sure to prepare for surgery by completing your list of things to do. Rather than wondering how long does wisdom teeth removal take to heal, make sure to prepare for things that are mentioned below to speed up recovery.
- Send in your leaves to get enough rest after the procedure
- Consult your surgeon or dentist for some post-surgery pain reliever medications and get them beforehand.
- Keep enough stock of soft foods and ice cream
- Get the ice packs ready for the initial days
Please note that the wisdom teeth removal recovery time can vary and it is preferable to be prepared in advance.
Do’s and Don’ts After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
By obeying the surgeon’s or dentist’s instructions, you can significantly reduce wisdom teeth removal recovery time. Here are things you need to know.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| ✔ Follow your prescription | ✗ Smoke for a week |
| ✔ Change gauze hourly | ✗ Touch the extraction area |
| ✔ Remove gauze pad as per surgeon’s instructions | ✗ Rinse roughly or spit |
| ✔ Use ice pack to reduce | ✗ Use straw for 3 days |
| ✔ Consume soft foods | ✗ Consume high amount of sugar |
| ✔ Drink more water | ✗ Drive 48 hours after removal |
| ✔ Use a wedge pillow | ✗ Start your routine activities immediately |
| ✔ Brush after 24 hours of removal | ✗ Take more pain killers than recommended |
Tips for Wisdom Teeth Removal Recovery
Based on the condition of your oral health, your surgeon will recommend some tips to speed up wisdom teeth recovery.
Thus, to reduce your wisdom teeth removal recovery time, follow the instructions carefully. Some of the standard tips are.
- Avoid dry sockets by making sure that the blood clot in the extraction area is not damaged.
- Make sure that your head is in an elevated position for 3 days.
- Regularly apply ice packs for initial 36 hours.
- Use warm salt water as directed by your dentist. This is one of the important steps of wisdom teeth removal recovery tips.
- Follow your prescription on time to reduce inflammation.
- Avoid breathing from the mouth as this can make your mouth feel dry.
- Regularly massage your jaw to prevent it from locking.
- Maintain the intake of coconut water as this will keep your body hydrated and can help in reducing gum inflammation. Yet another pro tip from the bucket of wisdom teeth removal recovery tips.
- Take enough rest to let your body recover faster as any discomfort in the extraction area can reduce recovery.
- Do not overuse medicines. Period.
This is your ultimate guide to wisdom teeth removal recovery tips, make sure to follow it for a quick recovery. With this, your overview of wisdom tooth or wisdom teeth comes to an end, but we are also aware of the questions you are curious about. Let’s dive into them!
Why are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Unlike in ancient times, these teeth are no longer a necessary part of your body. Moreover, wisdom teeth removal is necessary because most of the time they might not grow in the right direction or position, which can cause dental or gum problems such as infection or pain.
When should you Get your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
There is no perfect age for wisdom teeth removal. However, it is recommended to undergo removal while they are still erupting for easy wisdom teeth removal recovery. Coming on to part b of the answer, there are a few symptoms that might indicate an emergency removal or dentist visit. The most common ones are cavities in erupted wisdom teeth, signs of gum disease developing around molars, and painful backside of your teeth.
How Long does Wisdom Teeth Removal Take?
Considered a minor dental surgery, your wisdom teeth removal will be done and dusted in one or a few hours.
How Long does it Take for Wisdom Teeth to Heal?
Wisdom teeth removal recovery timeranges anywhere between 2-3 days to 2 weeks.
When can you Start Eating after Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Well, for the initial 24 – 48 hours, your dentist will advise you to stick to liquid, cold and soft foods such as ice cream, smoothies, soup, pudding, etc which will help lessen your wisdom teeth removal recovery time. It is then followed by trying and consuming solid food based on your recovery and comfort.
Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Hurt?
At the time of surgery, the area surrounding your wisdom teeth or wisdom tooth will be numb and thus, you will not feel anything. However, after the anesthesia effect is reduced, you may start hurting and have swollen cheeks or mouth for 3 days.
Please remember to inform your dentist in case you feel any pain during the surgery or if it exceeds too much after the surgery up until your wisdom teeth or wisdom tooth recovery.
Can I go out After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Ideally, it is not recommended by dentists to go out immediately after wisdom teeth removal. However, you can leave your house within 2-3 days to resume daily activities.
When to Return to Work after Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Normally, your wisdom teeth removal recovery time is 2-3 days without any complications, after which you can resume your routine physical activities. But, if your routine includes strenuous activities, it’s better to take an extra one or two days off and consult your dentist.
When to See a Wisdom Teeth Removal Dentist?
Wisdom teeth or wisdom tooth recovery starts within 3 days of the procedure. It is a minor surgery that might not cause complications but it is recommended to visit or consult your dentist if you face any below-mentioned symptoms.
- Substantial bleeding
- Pus or infection in the removal area
- Higher or 100.4-degree fever
- High swelling even after 3 days
- Breathing & swallowing difficulties
- Sign of pus or blood in your nasal drainage
- The feeling of numbness around your face
Don’t let wisdom teeth problems hold you back any longer! Gardner Smiles is here to help you find the best solution for your specific case. With our experienced team of dentists and state-of-the-art facilities, you can be confident that you’ll receive the highest quality care and attention. Book your appointment today and say goodbye to wisdom teeth pain and discomfort for good!
