The Importance of At Home Aftercare Following Wisdom Teeth Removal

For many, it is just a matter of time before they are informed that they must have their wisdom teeth extracted. This can happen for many reasons, including wisdom teeth that have become impacted or do not have enough room to erupt from the gums properly. This generally occurs during the teenage years, but it can happen later as well. Individuals seeking wisdom tooth removal in the Indianapolis, Indiana area go to see Dr. Matthew Church and the skilled team at Washington Street Dentistry. Dr. Church has performed safe wisdom teeth removal on patients throughout the area for years.

Through proper at-home care following the procedure, you can avoid unnecessary discomfort and complications.

What To Do Immediately Following Procedure

Your dentist will apply gauze to the site of the incision wound. This gauze should be left in place for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Once removed, you can throw it away. Avoid intense rinsing of the mouth and do not touch the incision wound. Doing so could dislodge the blood clot that has formed, and you may start to bleed. Use gauze as needed for any minor bleeding that may occur.

If you feel discomfort after the procedure, take any medications prescribed to you by your dentist for pain. As the anesthetic used during the procedure wears off, you will likely experience discomfort. It should not be intense. You should take it easy the day of the procedure and resume your normal daily schedule once you feel comfortable enough to do so. To help minimize swelling, use ice packs on the side of your face.

Bleeding

Let us be frank. This is a surgically invasive procedure, so there is going to be some bleeding right after surgery. This bleeding should not be excessive. It should only be slight. To minimize bleeding, avoid drinking from straws, touching the incision site, or rinsing your mouth with too much force. If you continue to bleed, call your dental office for further instruction.

Swelling

It is not uncommon to experience swelling around the mouth, cheeks, and eyes. This is normal and is your body’s reaction to the surgery. Swelling may not occur immediately and could wait a day before showing, with maximum swelling happening around the second- or third-day post-operation. You can try to minimize swelling by using an ice pack on the side of your face. Leave it on as often as you can while awake. After the initial 24 to 36 hours post-procedure, the effect of ice on the swelling will be minimal, and your may experience swelling for several days.

Pain

Pain management can be handled by taking any pain medication that your doctor might have prescribed you. Pain medication can make you groggy and dull your reflexes, so it is important to not drive or operate machinery when under medication. Your pharmacy will provide you with any additional instructions surrounding your prescribed medication. Pain is the worst at the 24 to 48-hour mark after surgery. It should subside a little bit each day so, if the pain persists or gets worse, make sure and contact your dentist.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

Do not rinse vigorously for at least 24 hours after your procedure. Brushing is ok the night after the surgery, but be careful and rinse gently. Starting 24 hours after your surgery, you should be rinsing your mouth 5 to 6 times daily with a warm water and salt solution. This is important to do after eating to make sure no stray particles of food linger at the incision site.

Even after reading this, it is important to make sure you have a clear post-procedure plan in place so that recovery can go quickly with minimal complications. If you need to have your wisdom teeth removed and are in the Indianapolis, IN area, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Matthew Church and the skilled team at Washington Street Dentistry by calling (317) 333-6788 today!

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