When can you stop wearing gauze after wisdom teeth removal

It may not seem like it, but getting your wisdom teeth taken out is surgery. You need to take time to recover. And how comfortably you recover is up to you. If you care for your mouth the right way, you’ll heal more quickly and easily. Here’s how to care for yourself after wisdom teeth removal.

Right after surgery, you’ll be under post-operative care to ensure your recovery from the effects of anesthesia and surgical trauma. When you wake up, you’ll be given a set of clear post-operative instructions and a prescription for pain medication.

Post-Surgery Care

So that your incisions can heal and bleeding is minimized, it’s important for your blood to clot quickly. The blood clot seals the tooth sockets and allows healing to begin. Without it, underlying bone and nerve endings can be exposed, causing pain.

You’ll be given gauze to bite down on over your incisions. You should apply steady, firm pressure on the gauze. If necessary, replace it every thirty minutes for the first couple of hours. If bleeding has abated after this period, then the gauze can be removed.

It can take up to eight hours for a blood clot to fully form a protective layer over the site. So, after the bleeding has stabilized, you should do as little as possible to disturb your incisions. No gauze should be used after the first day, as it can stick to and potentially dislodge a protective clot.

You shouldn’t clean your teeth or probe the area of the extraction for the first 24 hours after surgery. Avoid rinsing or any vigorous mouth movement. You won’t feel much like moving your mouth, anyways, so this part should be easy.

Refrain from any strenuous activities. Avoid using straws; drink from a glass instead. If you’re a smoker, you should wait at least 24 hours (but preferably longer) before having a cigarette.

Bleeding Care

Bleeding after wisdom teeth removal is normal but should never be excessive. If bleeding is excessive in the first hour or two after the surgery, you may need to apply more pressure to the site. Don’t bite down on the gauze with too much pressure, but do apply steady, firm pressure directly on the area.

If bleeding problems persist, place a damp tea bag over the incision. Tea contains tannic acid that constricts your blood vessels and should help to stop the bleeding.

To minimize bleeding, rest quietly. Until the bleeding has stopped it is natural to taste blood or to see traces of blood in your saliva. You may stop using gauze after the flow stops – usually around 8 hours after surgery.

Pain Remediation

Pain treatment is understandably a primary concern for most patients following wisdom teeth extraction. It’s an invasive procedure and does result in discomfort during the healing process. However, if managed promptly and appropriately, your pain can be minimized. And the better you feel, the better you’ll be able to manage your recovery.

Your local anesthetic won’t wear off for a few hours, so you should have your prescription for pain medication filled as soon as you are able after leaving surgery. You should take your medication after arriving at home. Do not work, drive, or operate heavy machinery while you’re taking your prescribed medication. Ibuprofen is also recommended to minimize swelling.

If you have been given antibiotics to prevent infection, you should begin taking these immediately until the prescription is finished.

Rest Helps

For the first 24 hours, you should avoid vigorous activity. Rest as much as possible and try not to talk unless you have to. When you lie down, you can minimize swelling by keeping your head elevated above your feet.

Swelling Tips

Swelling is natural after surgery. You probably won’t see major swelling until the second or third day. Even so, you should apply ice or a cold pack while resting after you arrive home. It’s best to follow the pattern of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. If your swelling is excessive, you may consider taking an anti-inflammatory drug such as Ibuprofen.

After 36-48 hours of applying ice at 20-minute intervals, you should switch to moist heat applied to the same area. The heat will promote quicker healing.

Post-Surgery Hygiene

Brushing your teeth is important – it helps to prevent infection. However, you should avoid rinsing, vigorous brushing, or spitting within the first 24 hours after your surgery. You can resume regular brushing on the day after surgery. Depending on your level of comfort and soreness, you should keep toothpaste to a minimum. Use a light touch at first. There may be some areas of your mouth that are difficult to reach until swelling goes down.

After the first 24 hours, rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after eating. You can make a saline solution by dissolving approximately one teaspoon of salt in an eight-ounce glass of water. Avoid the use of a water pic for at least one week following surgery.

Diet During Recovery

After surgery you should drink lots of fluids. Avoid all alcohol, caffeine, carbonated or hot beverages. You’re also advised not to drink from a straw for several days, because the sucking action could dislodge the blood clot and cause further bleeding.

You should only eat soft foods, such as yogurt or applesauce, for the first 24 hours. After that period, you may eat soft and semi-soft foods that require minimal chewing. If possible, avoid placing food in the area of the surgery.

Try to eat something for every meal, preferably high calorie and high protein foods. Your liquid intake should be around 5-6 glasses per day.

Possible Complications

If the blood clot in the tooth socket has been dislodged or has not healed over properly, you may develop a condition known as dry socket, or alveolar osteitis. If you do not feel that your wound is healing over the course of a week and begin to experience growing pain from your jawline radiating towards your ear, then you should contact your oral surgeon immediately.

Sometimes the small pieces of bone that supported your wisdom tooth can protrude from the area of the wound. This is not uncommon, especially in cases of complicated extraction. Even if you can feel these sharp protrusions within the first week, they will often go away and smooth down on their own. However, if they remain you should contact your oral surgeon.

Numbness, toothaches, and pain in your nose and throat are common following surgery. Fever may be present, but should go down with the reduction of swelling. If these symptoms remain or worsen after 48 hours, then you should contact your oral surgeon.

You should also contact your oral surgeon if any of the following occur: difficulty swallowing or breathing, pus discharge from the wound, blood or pus discharge from nasal cavities.

Removal of Stitches

Stitches normally dissolve on their own, but you should make an appointment with your oral surgeon if they need to be removed. If your stitches come untied on their own, simply pull them out. This is normal, and shouldn’t cause any problems.

Back to Normal

After a few days of healing, your pain level and activity should gradually return to normal. Try your best to resume normal activity within your comfort level (brushing, eating, exercising). Don’t rush anything when you are still in the healing process. But the more you are able to resume normal activity, the faster you will heal and feel better.

In resuming exercise, start off slowly. Keep in mind that dizziness may occur in the first days of recovery, especially after vigorous activity or when moving from lying to a standing position.

If you have any concerns, contact your oral surgeon at Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga.

We care about your health!