After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Many patients will experience discomfort after surgical procedures due to pain, nausea, swelling, and difficulty eating. In general, most difficult times occur during the first 24 to 72 hours after the operation. The following information is provided to facilitate recovery after the operation and must be followed in detail.

Do not rinse, use a straw, smoke, VAPE/JUUL, or forcefully spit for 48 hours after the surgery.

Bleeding

You are biting on cotton gauze to put pressure on the extraction site to help control bleeding. You should bite on the gauze for approximately 30 minutes. The gauze can be replaced with new gauze (2 pieces together rolled up like a beach towel) or a tea bag if bleeding persists. While biting on the gauze, be sure to swallow your saliva. Excess saliva and a small amount of blood appear to be a lot of blood. The wound may ooze or bleed very slightly for one or two days after surgery, this is normal. If there is excessive bleeding, you should contact us so that we can evaluate the problem.

Nausea/Vomiting

It is not uncommon for people to have nausea and vomiting after being sedated or put to sleep. The most common cause of post-operative nausea and vomiting is taking pain medicine on an empty stomach. If you take pain medicine you must have at least a full glass of liquid in your stomach. If you are still vomiting more than 24 hours after the operation and have not been able to keep fluids down, you should contact our office.

Eating

You will be on a soft food diet for 3 days following your surgery. All liquids and foods such as mashed potatoes, Jell-O, pudding, applesauce, or similar consistency are preferred. Stay away from food with small particles like rice, nuts, and popcorn that can get jammed in a fresh wound. In the event you become nauseated, clear liquids are easier to control if you vomit. Once you can keep fluids down without vomiting, you may advance your diet as tolerated.

Oral Hygiene

You may gently start brushing your teeth on the day of surgery, avoiding the surgical site. Do not rinse until day 4. On day 4, rinse with warm salt water or mouthwash. The purpose of this is to keep the wounds as clean as possible in order to decrease the risk of infection. In some cases, we may prescribe an antibacterial mouth rinse (Peridex)

Irrigation Syringe

On day 4 Begin rinsing with the irrigation syringe (provided in your post-op bag) after meals and before bed. You can fill it with salt water, tap water or mouthwash. Insert it into the wound and flush until no food or particles are coming out.

Swelling

The area operated on may swell and the peak of swelling is 72 hours. Icing 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, as well as sleeping with your head elevated can help reduce swelling.

Pain

We commonly will use a long-acting anesthetic that should keep your mouth numb (and pain-free) for 2 to 6 hours after the operation. When this local anesthesia wears off you should expect to have some pain or discomfort. Prescription pain medication may be provided, and your doctor recommends taking it as indicated on the bottle, as needed for pain during healing. Some pain medications may cause drowsiness. Therefore do not drive or operate heavy machinery while on these mediations. You may be able to control your pain with over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Excedrin. Remember do not take medications on an empty stomach.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are usually given post-operatively to prevent an infection. Please finish the entire prescription as directed by your provider. Notify our office of any adverse reactions such as rash, itching, or diarrhea.

Sutures

The sutures placed are typically dissolving sutures. The purpose of the sutures is to help stop bleeding. You should expect them to become loose and fall out between 3 to 10 days after the operation. They will appear as small strings in your mouth. With the swelling that may occur, there may be a sensation of the cheek being “sewn” to the gum, this is normal.

Other Conditions That May Occur

1. Small bone fragments that sometimes appear will slowly work their way out of the gum tissue as the tissues heal. These may feel like pieces of tooth but are actually bone.

2. There may be a slight elevation in temperature (fever) for 24-48 hours after surgery. If the fever continues or goes higher than 101ºF, please call us.

3. Numbness of the lower lip, chin, and/or tongue will sometimes occur after surgery. This usually disappears in a few days to a few months. Consult the doctor if this persists.

Please do not hesitate to call us about any problems, questions, or concerns that you may have.

Office phone: Pekin#Pekin Office Phone Number (309) 353-4111 Peoria#Peoria Office Phone Number (309) 683-3223. After hours telephone: Dr. Merheb #309-868-2525