How Long Does Recovery Take?
Each individual is different. Some can recover in just 3-4 days, while others may take up to two weeks to fully recover. Here’s what you can expect to see in your child during this time:
- Swollen mouth and cheeks
- Mild bruising of your cheeks – Should be gone by 2 weeks
- Sore jaw – This could last 7-10 days
- Pain at the affected site
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
Recovery time is mainly dependent on how complicated the procedure was. Simple extractions will take less time to heal, while complicated ones require more time. The most important thing to remember during recovery is to avoid any activities that may break the stitches or dislodge the clot. Dislodging the clot can lead to a condition called dry socket, and will not only increase the level of pain but also the risk for infection. Have your child avoid the following:
- Strenuous exercise
- Spitting
- Drinking from a straw
Can You Drive?
How long your teenager needs to wait to drive depends on several factors, including the type of anesthetic your teen received. These are the general rules of thumb, although your oral surgeon will specify when you are able to safely get behind the wheel again.
- Local anesthetic – Your teen can begin driving without medical restrictions
- Sedative – Your teen should wait at least 24 hours
- General anesthesia – Your teen should wait at least 48 hours
General Cleaning Care of Your Mouth
Dr. Ken Benson, our oral surgeon, will more than likely advise against brushing your teeth for a few days. Instead, either rinse your mouth with salt water or an antiseptic mouthwash in order to keep the wound clean. It is important to remember not to spit out the water or mouthwash but to let it fall out of your mouth instead. You can also very gently absorb excess blood with clean gauze.
Pain Management
There are two main ways to manage pain post-procedure. These include:
- Use an ice pack. Prevent ice burn by avoiding placing the ice pack directly onto your face. Instead, wrap it in a towel.
- Take pain medications as prescribed by your health care provider.
Prevent Infection
If Dr. Benson prescribes a round of antibiotics, be sure to take the full course to prevent infection.
What Foods Can I Eat?
First and foremost, make sure that your teen stays hydrated by drinking plenty of water following the procedure. Choose foods that are very soft and do not require much if any chewing. These include:
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Jello
- Oatmeal (not too hot)
- Yogurt
Be sure to avoid hot foods because they can burn the wound. Nuts and seeds can get lodged and the would and be very painful and lead to infection. Hard to chew foods can cause stitches to bust. Make sure to steer clear of these until the site has healed enough to tolerate them without damaging the wound.
Additional Tips
- Using an extra pillow for support during the night can increase comfort levels.
- Your teen can generally resume a mild form of exercise the day following the procedure.
- A recheck appointment about a week after the procedure will ensure that your teen’s mouth is healing as it should.
How Do You Know if Something is Wrong?
If your teen experiences any of the following, you should contact your dental healthcare provider immediately:
- Excessive bleeding that you are unable to stop with applied pressure
- Severe pain at the site
- Trouble swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling gets worse instead of better
- Blood coming out of your teen’s nose
- Pus coming out of the surgical site
- Numbness in your teen’s face
Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common dental procedures. Dr. Benson will be happy to walk you through every stage from presurgical to post-surgical care. Your teenager will be happy to have the procedure out of the way and will be even happier knowing that you did the best you could for his dental health.