After having your wisdom teeth removed, the steps you take during your recovery can slow down or speed up the recovery process. Make sure to follow the instructions provided by your oral surgeon closely to avoid any complications or prolong your healing time. In addition to the post-operative instructions we provide, here are some tips on what you should and should not do following wisdom teeth removal.
You can speak after having your wisdom teeth removed, just try to limit how much you talk immediately following surgery. When you talk, your tongue and mouth muscles move around, which can disturb the blood clots forming within the empty tooth sockets. You should try to rest quietly for the rest of the day and focus on taking it easy.
It is fine to take a shower after having wisdom teeth removed. Keep in mind that you might not be taking normal nourishment, so be careful when going from a laying down to a standing up position to avoid lightheadedness. Otherwise, you can shower and get up to stretch as you are feeling up to it. While your oral surgeon will instruct you on how to maintain good oral hygiene throughout recovery, there are no restrictions on general hygiene. You can shower and bathe as you normally would.
Do not sleep with gauze in your mouth. The gauze pads may move and you could choke on them. Be sure to remove all gauze pads prior to going to bed or taking a nap. Following wisdom teeth removal, keep your head elevated on 2 pillows for 3–4 days anytime that you go to sleep or while you are resting. This will help prevent blood from pooling in the mouth, keep you comfortable, and help to reduce swelling.
Dr. Ioppolo regularly extracts wisdom teeth at our office in Lubbock, TX. Our team makes the oral surgery experience smooth and easy, and wep* answer all of your questions so that you can be informed about your care. Contact Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock today if you or your child have wisdom teeth and need them extracted.
