Home Treatment
If a
wisdom tooth is impacted or is emerging and causing
problems, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist. While you are
waiting for treatment, you can relieve pain and swelling with home treatment.
- Use an
on the outside of your cheek. Apply it for 20 minutes, then remove
it for 20 minutes. Repeat as needed.
- Gently rinse your mouth with
warm salt water every 2 to 3 hours. You can make your own salt water by
mixing 1 tsp (5 g) of salt in a medium-sized glass [8 fl oz (240 mL)] of warm water.
- Try an
medicine to help relieve your face or
jaw pain. Carefully read and follow all labels on the medicine bottle and box.
Medicines that might help include:
- Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These
include ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), naproxen (such as Aleve or
Naprosyn), or aspirin (such as Bayer or Bufferin). Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye
syndrome, a rare but serious disease.
- Do not use heat or put an aspirin directly on your gums. Aspirin
used in this way can damage your gums.
Your dentist or surgeon may prescribe
if you have an infection. Be sure to
take this medicine for the entire time prescribed. Healing the infection before the
tooth is removed makes the
extraction procedure easier and will reduce the risk
of problems after surgery.
After you have had a wisdom tooth
extracted, the recovery period in most cases is only a few days. Take
painkillers as needed, using the recommended dose. To help speed recovery and
prevent complications, such as a
dry socket, take the following steps:
- Change cotton gauzes before they become soaked
with blood. If it doesn't cause any pain, bite down gently on the cotton gauze.
Call your dentist if you still have enough bleeding to need a gauze pad after
24 hours.
- While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the
inside of your cheek or lip or your tongue.
- Do not rinse your mouth
on the day you had your surgery, because it may wash away clots and delay the
healing process. On the day after surgery, very gently rinse your mouth with
warm salt water—1 tsp (5 g) of salt in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water—every 2 to 3
hours. This will reduce swelling, relieve pain, and clean the area.
- Relax and get plenty of
rest after surgery. Strenuous physical activity may increase
bleeding.
- Do not smoke cigarettes or drink through a straw.
Dragging on a cigarette or sucking on a straw could dislodge the clot and delay
healing. Smoking also decreases the blood flow, so healing takes longer. And
smoking can bring germs and other contaminants to the surgery
site.
- Apply an ice pack to the outside of your cheek for 20 minutes
to reduce pain and swelling. Then remove it for 20 minutes. Repeat as
needed. Some swelling after tooth removal is normal.
- Do not lie
flat. This may cause you to bleed longer. Prop up your head with
pillows.
- Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or
fingers.
- After the numbness is gone, drink only clear liquids and
eat soft foods such as gelatin, pudding, or thin soup. Avoid hot liquids,
alcoholic beverages, and hard, sticky foods. Gradually add more solid foods to
your diet as healing progresses. Try not to chew in the areas where your tooth
was extracted.
- Gentle rinsing with
warm salt water after meals will help keep food
particles out of the area where your tooth was removed.
- Continue to
brush your other teeth and your tongue carefully with a soft-bristled brush.
Avoid brushing around the extraction area until your dentist says you may brush
there.