Wisdom tooth extraction - aftercare tips

triggerhappy · 6th May 2008, 11:28pm

I'm booked in to get this bastard pulled next Tuesday. I'm being sedated due to general fear and a slight awkwardness tofo the positioning of the tooth (it's partially erupted but aiming towards my jaw.)

Just looking for advice/experiences from other folks for the post extraction period. I'll have someone with me before, during and after the "operation" to check that I don't suddenly die after the anesthetic but I was wondering what I should eat, what to do/avoid doing etc.

Anyone care to share their personal experience?

Devastator · 6th May 2008, 11:46pm

Have you got a few days off work after it? Won't be so horribly painful you can't move or anything, but expect to feel mega groggy. Soft foods are your friends.

endless psych · 6th May 2008, 11:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

Anyone care to share their personal experience?

Alternate painkillers. Sook ice and perhaps salt water.

Westy · 6th May 2008, 11:58pm

Have a big bowl and hunners of water near by. The amount of blood is scary.

Soup with bread is your best bet. Try not poke about the gap with your tongue. You might be able to feel part of your jawbone, which isn't nice. But that only for a few days while your gum heals over.

But good luck, hope it doesn't go too bad.

TheCastrator · 7th May 2008, 9:09am

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

I'm booked in to get this bastard pulled next Tuesday. I'm being sedated due to general fear and a slight awkwardness tofo the positioning of the tooth (it's partially erupted but aiming towards my jaw.)

Just looking for advice/experiences from other folks for the post extraction period. I'll have someone with me before, during and after the "operation" to check that I don't suddenly die after the anesthetic but I was wondering what I should eat, what to do/avoid doing etc.

Anyone care to share their personal experience?

I was on soup the first day and then was fine for soft bread and chicken by the second, just had to be careful to chew on the other side, slowly. Painkillers on the first and second night, was fine afterwards.

I recommend cold black tea; the whachimicallits in it will help the healing along nicely. Suck the bag, too.

Sleep sitting up. Probably.

Largest of Als · 7th May 2008, 9:11am

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

I'm booked in to get this bastard pulled next Tuesday. I'm being sedated due to general fear and a slight awkwardness tofo the positioning of the tooth (it's partially erupted but aiming towards my jaw.)

Just looking for advice/experiences from other folks for the post extraction period. I'll have someone with me before, during and after the "operation" to check that I don't suddenly die after the anesthetic but I was wondering what I should eat, what to do/avoid doing etc.

Anyone care to share their personal experience?

Cocaine... and booze.... lots of booze..

Al

System_Star · 7th May 2008, 9:27am

Take a couple of days of you work.

Paracetomal - take two four times a day and iburpofen 400mg - take one three times a day, at differnet times. Wash your mouth out with corsodyl up to 4 times a day, or twice a day and use salt water in between times.

You'll dentist will tell you all that anyway, but really it's just about keeping it clean and keeping the pain in check.

Ice cream is a god send too

stick to soft foods, but if you are eating soup, or drinking tea let it cool a bit as the heat can make it bleed a bit more.

Good luck!

Tacky · 7th May 2008, 9:58am

Im in the same boat - but im getting 2 - yes, 2 - out this month.

So, one a week on thursday and then the second the following week. I wish that a) I was being sedated and b) i had someone with me all day!

Ive had teeth taken out before and i know what im in for. These 2 are rotten so im wondering if they will pretty much come out easily...or not.

triggerhappy · 7th May 2008, 1:02pm

See this sleeping sitting up thing, is it really likely to bleed during the night? It just seems like such an odd concept to me - bleeding from your mouth while unconscious and not dying

Cheers for the other tips folks

Tacky · 7th May 2008, 1:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

It just seems like such an odd concept to me - bleeding from your mouth while unconscious and not dying

Well, weirder things happen on a monthly basis...

Ive never had to sit up to sleep after an extraction. Then again, i havent had any wisdom teeth out, just a couple of molars. Maybe we should have a 'wisdom teeth extraction support group'!

System_Star · 7th May 2008, 1:53pm

Sleeping sitting up? I don't think it is going to continually pour blood all night, it should clot up, eh? Sounds nuts anyway. Are you getting any stitches?

AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS · 7th May 2008, 1:54pm

How about just asking your doctor?
I'm sure they will provide plenty of aftercare advice.

Tacky · 7th May 2008, 1:57pm

Sometimes you do need stitches, but it all depends on how the extraction turns out. It could come straight out, or the roots could be twisted, or they could split the gum..#

See, when i was told i had to get 2 of mine out, i couldnt sleep because all i could think about was 'what if they have to split my gum' etc.

Straight after they give you these thick pads and you close your mouth on them - they help to stop the bleeding.

DONT - poke at it
- try to clean out the gunk in your gum that forms - its natural, leave it alone; it may smell but it helps the gum heal. I cleaned it out and made it worse - you DO NOT want them to have to pack it with cloves, so painful when they have to do that!
- spit alot

anglarna · 7th May 2008, 2:00pm

my face and jaw were both pretty swollen when i got my two lower wisdom teeth taken out. the first one was pretty easy as the pus had eroded the majority of the tooth whilst the second was just mildly infected and didn't want to leave my mouth. it was overall the most painful thing i've had to go through yet. second only to being born.

i was advised to rinse it out with salt water (not alcohol-based mouthwash as it would irritate the wound) and take plenty of pain killers. they gave me cocodamol but it made me too ill and so i was stuck popping a concoction of paracetamol and ibuprofen.

be prepared for the worst two weeks your mouth has ever experienced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS

How about just asking your doctor?
I'm sure they will provide plenty of aftercare advice.

aye ok. ask your doctor about a dental procedure.

TheCastrator · 7th May 2008, 2:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

See this sleeping sitting up thing, is it really likely to bleed during the night? It just seems like such an odd concept to me - bleeding from your mouth while unconscious and not dying

No, by then it should just be oozing. If it's a lower wisdom tooth, sleeping with your head raised will probably decrease your chance of getting dry sockets.

Problem is, with the remedies and horror stories, everyone's different. I was told of weeks of pain. I got a day of pain, then mild discomfort. Eating was back to normal-ish by the fourth day. Missed hot drinks. First pot of green tea after a fortnight was one of the best things ever.