Wisdom Tooth Removal: What Recovery Is Really Like
For most people, the first couple of days are the hardest. Some pain, swelling and a stiff jaw are normal, and they usually start to ease after a day or two. It can take up to about two weeks to feel completely back to normal.
On the day
- Numbness. Your lip, cheek and tongue may stay numb for a few hours after the local anaesthetic. Take care not to bite them, and wait for the feeling to come back before hot food or drinks.
- Some bleeding. A little oozing on the first day is normal. If it bleeds, fold a clean piece of gauze or cloth, place it over the area and bite down firmly for at least 10 minutes.
- The blood clot. A clot forms in the socket where the tooth was. It protects the area while it heals, so leave it alone: don’t poke at it with your tongue or fingers, and don’t rinse hard.
- Pain relief. Take painkillers only as your dentist advises, and check with them before adding anything else.
The first few days
You will probably notice some of these:
- swelling of the cheek, sometimes with a little bruising
- a sore, stiff jaw that doesn’t open fully
- chewing feeling uncomfortable
Many people go back to their normal routine the next day. If your tooth was a more difficult one, plan for one to three days off work or college. It’s worth asking what to expect for your own tooth before the procedure.
What to eat
- Stick to soft food until you can chew comfortably: curd rice, idli, khichdi, dal or soup, eaten warm rather than hot.
- Skip crunchy things like chips, murukku and nuts, and anything with seeds or small hard bits that could lodge in the socket.
- Chew on the other side for a while.
- Avoid alcohol and very hot drinks for the first few days.
Keeping it clean
- Brush your other teeth as usual, carefully avoiding the area where the tooth came out.
- Gentle rinsing with warm salt water or a mouthwash helps keep the area clean. Ask your dentist when you can start.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco (gutka, khaini) while it heals. Smoking raises the risk of infection, and tobacco slows healing.
Stitches and follow-up
If you had stitches, ask whether they will dissolve on their own or need to be taken out, and whether you should come back for a check. If you’re unsure how it’s healing, call us during clinic hours.
What's normal, and what isn't
Normal: pain and swelling that are worst in the first couple of days and then slowly ease, some bruising, a stiff jaw, a little oozing on the first day.
Call us on +91 8919841783 if:
- the bleeding doesn’t stop after pressing on it
- the pain is severe and painkillers aren’t helping
- the pain or swelling is getting worse instead of better after the first couple of days
- the area hurts and tastes or smells bad, or you get a fever or feel generally unwell
- numbness in your lip, chin or tongue hasn’t worn off by the next day
Pain that gets worse instead of better can be a dry socket: the clot protecting the socket has come away or not formed properly. It is painful but treatable, so call us rather than wait.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if:
- it’s hard to breathe, speak or swallow
- your eye is swollen or painful, or your eyesight changes
- there’s a lot of swelling inside your mouth
- bleeding is heavy, won’t stop with firm pressure, and you can’t reach us
Don’t wait for the clinic to open if any of these happen.
Who does wisdom tooth surgery at Kondapur
Difficult and impacted wisdom teeth are surgical work. At our Kondapur clinic, that is the field of Dr. Bhargav Kuchu, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (MDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery). Before the procedure, ask how to prepare and what recovery is likely to look like for your tooth.
To book a consultation, call us on +91 8919841783 or message us on WhatsApp. You can read more about wisdom tooth removal and oral and maxillofacial surgery, or find directions and timings on our Kondapur clinic page.
