What are wisdom teeth?
Your wisdom teeth are the most rear teeth in your mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, with one sitting in the upper and lower jaw each side of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge in the mouth, typically appearing between the ages of 16 and 23. However, not everyone develops their wisdom teeth normally, and some don’t have any emerge at all.
Importantly though: just because you can’t see your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they don’t exist. This is when issues can occur.
Impacted wisdom teeth
‘Eruption’ is the process of teeth emerging and becoming visible. Impaction is when a tooth fails to fully erupt and grow out of the gums, and subsequently gets stuck. This happens either because they don’t have enough room or they develop at the wrong angle. Any teeth can be impacted, but it is most common to see impaction after wisdom tooth eruption.
Not all impacted wisdom teeth cause problems, but to be safe, it is worth getting them checked regularly. This will help your dentist catch any problem signs early and avoid significant complications. Impacted teeth will not solve themselves. Unfortunately, you will require dental intervention.
If you are experiencing significant pain, red and swollen gums, aching jaws, bleeding or difficulty opening your mouth, you may be suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
To minimise pain and discomfort, you should have an impacted wisdom tooth removed as early as possible. Wisdom teeth extraction can happen either in the dental chair or under general anaesthetic (in a day hospital). This is how we do it:
- Anaesthetic: Your dentist will numb your gums and then inject local anaesthetic near the extraction area. If you are in a day hospital, this will occur after general anaesthetic has been applied.
- Incision: The dentist or surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue that allows them to access the impacted tooth. They may divide the tooth into sections, making it easier to remove.
- Removal: The impacted tooth is pulled out from your gum line. If you are in the dental chair, you will likely feel some pressure but should not experience any pain. Once the tooth is removed, your dentist will clean the site of any excess debris or tissue.
- Stitching: The incision wound is cleaned and closed to allow it to heal. Gauze is placed over the extraction site to help a blood clot form. Sometimes, wisdom tooth stitches are used to close the wound. Your dentist will advise you whether you need to return for any follow-up procedures.
What to expect after removal
After extraction, your dentist will detail everything you need to do over the coming days and weeks. Recovery from wisdom teeth extraction takes time. Your mouth will take time to heal, as will the wound where the tooth was removed.
Swelling
Patients typically experience some noticeable and potentially painful swelling and bruising after wisdom teeth removal. You can reduce this swelling by applying ice packs to the outside of your mouth in 15 minute intervals, for up to two days. You can also suck on ice chips and take pain relief. Only eat soft foods that don’t require chewing, and try to always remain propped up, even while you sleep.
Bleeding
To help a blood clot form in the extraction site, keep firm pressure over the wound with gauze for 1 hour after surgery. If bleeding continues, fold a piece of gauze into quarters and continue holding it there. Bleeding should stop after around 3 hours, though you may see blood-tinged saliva for up to 48 hours. To avoid heavy bleeding resuming, do not rinse, spit or suck through a straw for 24 hours after surgery.
What can happen after removal
Dry socket
When the site of extraction does not develop an adequate blood clot, you may develop a ‘dry socket’, which is a condition where the underlying nerves and bone are exposed in the gum line where the blood clot would normally protect them. Dry socket is highly painful but can be treated by flushing the socket and placing a dressing to ensure a blood clot forms. To avoid developing dry socket, follow your dentist’s instructions closely and avoid sucking and rinsing and only eat appropriate foods.
Infection
Infection may follow a dry socket if the exposed area fills with food debris or bacteria, leading to enhanced pain and swelling, as well as symptoms like fever, discharge, and bad breath. Continued discomfort over 3 days after extraction is often an indicator of wisdom teeth infection, but it can be treated with a thorough clean, antibiotics and an antiseptic mouthwash. Please consult with your dentist if you feel like anything is out of the ordinary.
Wisdom teeth removal aftercare
As with any dental treatment, taking the right care afterwards is the key to creating long-lasting fixes and avoiding unnecessary pain and discomfort. For wisdom teeth, this means knowing what to eat, how to clean, and things to avoid.
When can you brush your teeth after wisdom teeth removal?
The first day after surgery you should avoid brushing your teeth and rinsing. After 24 hours, you can begin using warm saltwater rinses to clean your mouth, ideally after every time you eat or drink anything other than water. You can then resume your normal brushing routine after 24 hours, but it is important to be particularly careful around the extraction area. The wound will still be healing and excessive force or pressure may dislodge the newly formed blood clot, leading to dry socket or infection.
You need to be very careful to avoid letting any bacteria get near the extraction area as it heals. This can be done by changing your toothbrush, avoiding flossing for a couple days, and keeping your fingers or other foreign objects out of your mouth.
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal
Overall, you should limit food and drink after your operation for around 2 hours, but there are some things you can eat after this period. To avoid discomfort and pain, we recommend starting with soft foods after wisdom teeth removal, like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, porridge and avocado. You can also make use of Greek yoghurt and blended soups, as long as the consistency is relatively smooth and soft. Smoothies are another popular choice.
Above all, make sure you drink plenty of water after your extraction. Not only does it provide all the normal health benefits, but it will also help keep your mouth clean and free from bacteria, helping you avoid possible wisdom teeth infections. If you’re wondering when you can eat solid food after wisdom teeth removal, we recommend waiting around a week after extraction to return to your regular diet. Read our article on food to eat after wisdom teeth removals to learn more.
What types of food should you avoid?
Stay away from caffeinated and soft drinks, as well as alcohol, as these may disturb your teeth and mouth. For the period after surgery, avoid eating foods that will negatively affect the extraction wound, such as spicy foods, crunchy and crumbly foods, and foods with grains and seeds.
Try to avoid eating foods that are overly hot, as this can hurt your mouth and prolong swelling. Make sure not to use straws too — the sucking action can disrupt your blood clot from healing.
Keeping your mouth healthy
If you follow all of these guidelines, your wisdom tooth socket should take about 2 to 4 weeks to fully heal with solid gum tissue. The underlying bone will take a couple months, but it will eventually remodel and completely heal. This all might sound like a lot to remember, but you can be comforted knowing that your dentist is always there to support you and will provide you with detailed instructions to keep your mouth healthy.
Get in touch with us if you have more questions or think you might need a wisdom tooth extracted. We can talk you through all your options and above all, help you keep smiling.
