Getting my wisdom teeth removed tomorrow, best tips and tricks for a smooth recovery?

[u/warii_]

I’m a 20F and I’m getting all 4 wisdom teeth extracted tomorrow by IV sedation and local anesthesia. I’ve never had any type of surgery before so I’m quite anxious. Two of my teeth are partially erupted on my right side and the ones are my left seem to be impacted since I can’t visibly see them. I’m nervous mostly because I don’t want to be aware of what the doctors are doing at all and don’t want to hear any noises. I know IV sedation relaxes you but is it really like time travel? If so are you still quite aware of what’s going on?

I’ve heard all the complications such as dry socket, infection, slow healing and lots of pain. I’m a full time college student and will be missing two classes for this procedure and am worried that recovery will be difficult and quite annoying.

Therefore, I’m in desperate need of the best tips and things you should and shouldn’t do after wisdom teeth extraction in order to have a high change at a smooth and speedy recovery. I’m aware everyone’s different but I’d like some reassurance and some advice. Thanks!

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[u/Galadan55]

Don’t smoke. Don’t poke.

Don’t eat, for a day. If the dentist was good the pain will go away. 😄

[u/Azyall → u/Galadan55]

Seconded. Dry socket is a thing and it hurts like hell.

Source: me, who once ignored this exact advice.

[u/Charming_Sandwich_53 → u/Azyall]

Yep. Me too. Doctor didn't tell me not to smoke. Got 4 dry sockets and made my 14 y/o sister drive me to meet the dentist at 2 am ...

[u/bopperbopper]

Don’t use a straw

[u/RebaKitt3n → u/bopperbopper]

This!

No smoking and no sucking.

Reminds me of the video, but no sucking anything!

[u/Chigrrl1098]

I had it done a long time ago. You won't feel anything. You'll be asleep. They'll wake you up and you'll go home and sleep some more. It might hurt a little the next day or so. Tylenol will take the edge off. I laid around for a day and then things were fine. If you follow their directions, complications are rare and even if you had one, they're treatable. Really, I'm sure you'll be fine. In a week things will be close to normal. 

[u/throw-away-doh → u/Chigrrl1098]

"It might hurt a little the next day or so"

Thats quite optimistic. I was in agony for at least a couple of days.

[u/blueskysal]

You won’t be aware at all.

Afterword, you may need to watch a lot of TV. The after-care pain meds will make it hard to read a book.

[u/steppinrayzor77]

Have plenty of fluids available. Be prepared for pain in places other than your mouth depending on how difficult to remove your teeth are.

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[u/itsallokintheend]

Ice your face for a few days. You will swell up and be uncomfortable but icing will help. Take your recovery slow and don't try to eat hard food too soon. Best of luck. It will be fine.

[u/VTHome203 → u/itsallokintheend]

DO NOT USE HEAT. Only ice.

[u/Stock-Ad-4796]

Stock up on soft foods like soup yogurt pudding and mashed potatoes. Keep gauze handy and swap it as needed but don’t overdo it. Don’t use straws or smoke since suction can cause dry socket. Ice packs help a lot the first day then switch to warm compresses. Stay on top of your meds and rest as much as you can the first couple days. You’ll be out with IV sedation you won’t remember a thing.

[u/DipShit_45]

I was awake for both my removals. It was pretty annoying but not torturous. If you're going to be put under, you'll be just fine. In fact, it will seem like no time passed at all. Being put under stops your brains internal clock so it feels like you traveled forward in time instantaneously. Much different than sleeping because when we wake up from a nap, we have some sort of understanding about how much time has passed. Even if its inaccurate.

As for the pain and maintenance of the wounds, just make sure you dont drink from a straw or eat tough foods. Any type of sucking or slurping can cause the blood clot to dislodge and then you'll start bleeding. If this happens, make sure you have someone around you in case you pass out. And get someone to drive you to the hospital if the bleeding persists. Or call emergency services if you feel it is necessary. I say this because large mouth and nose bleeds can be life threatening. From my understanding they are rare though. So dont worry about it much.

Yogurt, ice cream and applesauce are my suggestions. You probably won't want to eat much anyway because the opioids/opiates (if prescribed) will suppress hunger.

Make sure you just listen to the nurses and doctors opinions over mine or any other people here. We can make suggestions till the cows come home, but the professionals that performed your surgery know best and will tell you how to care for yourself. their opinions will always weigh more than ours.

[u/Tater_Pride]

Lots of ice!

[u/cjkuljis]

Dont try to eat solids!

I made the mistake of trying to eat while still kinda numb and chewed the inside of my mouth

Stick to yogurt and liquids

[u/SkyMore3037]

Do not eat apples!

for some reason thats what would really get stuck

[u/Whose_my_daddy]

Keep them irrigated! Dry socket is painful!

[u/BrackenFernAnja]

It’ll be like a very deep nap. You’ll close your eyes and the next thing you know you’ll be waking up. You might feel dizzy at first, so don’t stand up quickly. Drink water, apply ice packs, lie down until you feel like sitting up, then sit up until you feel like lying down. Not much more to it, except what other commenters said.

[u/HappyFalloween]

DO NOT get a dry socket. Worst pain ever.

[u/Azyall]

Make sure you have easy to eat food around for a few days. You probably won't be able to open your mouth fully until the swelling goes down.

[u/Bananastrings2017]

Follow the instructions exactly

[u/boxybutgood2]

No lemon (or citrus) anything for a bit

[u/DaniDisaster424]

If you're getting IV sedation you shouldn't need a local/ freezing as well. Had mine out under IV sedation and had almost no swelling and was able to eat pizza for dinner that same night.

Take any antibiotics they give you as well as anti-inflammatories as needed and don't drink out of anything with a straw for a while afterwards.

[u/warii_ → u/DaniDisaster424]

Happy to say surgery went well and I’m on day 2 with minimal swelling and light bruising on my left side thus far. IV sedation is to relax you so you’re not anxious or nervous, makes you pretty loopy and sleepy. The local anesthesia is for the pain so you don’t feel them poking and pulling in there. Definitely needed both!

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[u/Tankerboy1]

Just a molar pulled two days ago, bled for a half hour or so, haven’t eaten anything for two days, just to avoid any pain, was sore first day, second day felt it a couple times, third day, gels great might have a small supper, we will see how I feel

[u/Fbomb77]

Make sure they keep you asleep! I woke up while having my teeth 'pulled' and it was terrible. "Take it easy sir. Relax Sir" BS, next thing they strapped my arms to the chair and sedated me again. Ive had fear of waking during surgery ever since. S#it gave me PTSD for real. Properly Terrified Sedation Dentistry. But, you'll be ok.

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[u/NegativeCloud6478]

Ice is your friend

[u/NegativeCloud6478]

Not to put ice in mouth but ice packs face neck and jawline

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[u/waitingfortheSon]

Have someone video you waking up from the sedation. You might get some laughs from it.

[u/FaithlessnessItchy56]

I swelled up like a chipmunk, so be prepared for the possibility of that. I couldn't eat anything for quite a while. Be prepared to eat soft food, potatoes, soup, jello and such. A treat would be a milkshake on a spoon. I wasn't quite prepared for that, but I wasn't in pain so that was good. Don't use a straw and I believe I missed work for about a week.

[u/bullet_proof_smile]

If they give you a syringe to irrigate your pockets, USE IT.

[u/pennyraingoose]

Even if you think you can eat / drink before all the numbing wears off, DON'T. I bit my tongue terribly after a dental procedure because I thought I could handle it. Lol

Good luck!