Wisdom teeth removed - Any advice?

[kristina87]

I had little to no swelling, it was pretty painles. Make sure to moisten the gauze a little bit before putting new in otherwise it sticks and thats really annoying. Also like others have said, the mini syringe was a GREAT thing for the weeks afterward, I would get chips and stuff stuck in there and have to spray it out with the water, so gross haha!

I ate those little packets of instant mashed potatoes for like 2 days, and then I could eat normal food, within reason. I had a weird thing where I couldn't open my jaw fully for like a month, but it went away. That was kinda scary but I don't know if that happens often or not. Good luck, its not as bad as it seems! The worst part for me was the IV

 

[Aimros]

I had all 4 of mine out last February (3 were impacted). The morning of my surgery we had a bad winter storm come through and there was about 6 inches of snow on the ground (I also called the fire department at 3am the morning of my surgery because an electrical wire came down and started a fire in a tree across the street!). Even though the conditions were bad, I didn't want to reschedule. Toward the end of my surgery, all the power went out! I was completely out so didn't know until I woke up and it was dark. The surgeon told me they almost had to stop and would have to reschedule me to finish but since they were almost done they were able to complete the surgery that day. How awful would that have been waking up and being told I had to come back to get 2 more out?

For advice, I would say try to stay away from the really strong painkillers if she can. I only took my extra strength (prescription) Ibuprofen which I truly believe helped me heal faster by bringing down the swelling. I was scared to take the Oxycodene, so I didn't. I had them, but I took an Ibuprofen right away after surgery (even before the pain started) and took them every 4 hours for the first 4 days or so.

Ice is also important.

As far as food, I lived off of yogurt (Greek yogurt is high in protein and really filling), ice cream and pudding, but then I got really sick of sugar so I started mashing/blending EVERYTHING - potatoes, carrots, pasta, eggs - everything got thrown in a blender. Which sounds disgusting now, but it was SOOOO good then when I couldn't eat anything else.

I'd tell her to just take it easy and remember it isn't going to last forever. I had to go to a catered dinner the fifth day after my surgery and all I could eat was potatoes. It was depressing and frustrating but I'm so glad I didn't push it.

And try not to let her read too many horror stories on the internet - I read too many and in all reality the surgery and the recovery was fine. I gave myself 5 full days of recovery to not do anything (Weds - Sun) including the day I had my surgery.

 

[Luv2Camp]

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your stories and advice. It seems like some people get through it with no problem, and other people's experiences aren't so easy! The advice is great, though - Tea bags, ice, painkiller problems, jaw bra (that almost made me spit out my soda!), and food options. I really appreciate you taking time to give your advice. I'll be glad when it's all over and she's on the mend!

 

[libraryfreak]

Because they were impacted, my health insurance paid for it! Yipee! Otherwise it would of been $2400.

 

[tvguy]

I babysat my wife and both kids through this. All 4 at once for my kids, all 4 plus 2 additional extractions at once for my wife in preparation for adult braces.
No big deal.

As for me, I'm 53, still have mine, they don't bother me, and I plan to take them with me to my grave.

 

[Gigi22]

I had all four wisdom teeth removed, in two separate sessions -- a long time ago. I was very lucky, the roots of all my wisdom teeth were really straight, not entwined with any other roots. I was fully conscious while my lower teeth were removed--essentially the dental surgeon used something that resembled a can opener. It only took a few minutes.

I suggest you stock up on really soft foods and liquids that can be consumed at room temperature. It is important to stay well hydrated.

 

[Callie]

I had little to no swelling, it was pretty painles. Make sure to moisten the gauze a little bit before putting new in otherwise it sticks and thats really annoying. Also like others have said, the mini syringe was a GREAT thing for the weeks afterward, I would get chips and stuff stuck in there and have to spray it out with the water, so gross haha!

The worst was having to rinse in the airport, or not being able too. Hated the feeling of food being stuck up there! Even nastier is when you'd finally get to wash em out and had to taste what you ate awhile ago

 

[jbcheerchick93]

best idea that was passed along to my family-

mix 2/3 water and 1/3 alcohol in a plastic baggie. you can add food coloring to make it fun, and the alcohol will keep it from freezing completely. so it should be like slush, very cold and easy to form to your face

 

[Agri]

Ice the first day, warm compresses the next. My parents ended up boiling water to get the compresses hot enough for me - but boy did it feel good and help the swelling!

Make sure you have liquid pain medication (and any other meds). For me, it was very difficult to open my mouth wide enough to chuck a pill back and not having to worry about that just makes life so much easier. I'd also see about getting a sleep aid - if OTC stuff works for her, have it on hand. I'm a tummy sleeper and I was stuck laying on my back for a few days after it and having a sleep aid actually allowed me to get some rest!

I took out the gauze as soon as I was able to and didn't put any back in - I just drooled onto some towels until the bleeding stopped completely. It was my first time having teeth cut out, but not my first extraction by far, so I did have *some* experience with what was happening to me. It's gross, but so much better than biting on the gauze and worrying about a clot coming out.

I lived on soups for a few days until the pain and swelling subsided some. I didn't like having cold things after the first day, but I think that's because some of the pain was bone pain and cold never feels good on that!

(After all the pain, the worst part was the 'dissolving' stitches. I'd have pieces of them coming out at the worst times - like a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant. Like almost Victoria and Albert's nice. )

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Get some pastina. After a day or two of mushy food - I was starving. I made it with stock, butter and parm cheese. If you make it thicker you can scrape it off the spoon with your lip so it's not hard to eat and because it's small you can just swllow it without chewing.

After a few days I started adding some scrambled eggs and chopped chicken. Of course now years later I hate Pastina but at the time it was fantastic.

 

[Martha7]

Sorry, I just re-read your original post, and realized that I was giving advice based on my DS's tonsillectomy, not wisdom teeth! Much of the advice is the same, stay on top of the pain, etc., but the wisdom teeth was much less of an ordeal overall! My DS didn't like the gauze packing that he felt in his mouth when he woke up, and got a bit freaked out by the IV that they placed before the surgery. They had to wait a few minutes for his blood pressure to come back up before they put him under. Other than that though, he recovered like a champ. He was 17 when he had it done also.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

I'm a dental assistant studying to be a dental hygienist and I'm constantly telling patients what to eat after surgery cause I've been through it myself and its worked for me. Wendy's Frostees right after surgery and macaroni and cheese (Kraft in a box is awesome) and apple sauce. I had a frostee after my wisdom teeth removal about a year ago and it was HEAVEN!!! Also, my sister and I lived on Kraft Mac and cheese after our wisdom teeth were removed and it was HEAVEN as well!!! The noodles just slide down your throat so there's no need to really have to aggrivate the jaw when you need to chew. Also, make sure that whatever scripts she has for pain pills, get those filled the day before or the day of surgery before she's done at the office or even before you go in. That way she can get home and take them as soon as humanly possible after the surgery.

 

[CathrynRose]

As far as pain goes... STAY AHEAD of it! Don't have her wait until "it hurts". Also, opening my mouth real wide for a week or so afterwards did not feel good... Have her use caution, soft food for a few days (maybe only 1 day)

Agreed 1000%!

I did not want to be put under, so I chose to have 2, then 2 out. Round one, they pulled the 2, I was fine, everything was hunky dory, I was still doing fine hours later and THEN... when the pain hit, all the ibuprofen (and aspirin) I was rating like candy, wasn't even touching it!!!! I called them, sobbing... and they called me in Vicodin. And I was out for the day.

The 2nd round - 2 weeks later, I took Advil right when I got home. I kept taking it every 4 hours, except when I was sleeping, and I was fine.

So yeah - stay on top of it.

Other than that - I didn't have any problems. It really was easy breezy. And I personally LOVED the squirt bottle getting the gunk out! LOL!

 

[newtodcl]

Pineapple juice is a natural "number" and feels great! It is not acidic and did not sting, just felt great!

 

[lizanne]

It's been a long time since I had mine removed, but way back then I remember the worst thing was trying to open my mouth afterwards. I don't know if that's an issue anymore as they may have changed the way they do the proceedure. But if it is, what worked was putting 1 finger between the upper and lower teeth, when that was comfortable puting 2 fingers (widthwise) between the upper and lower teeth and so on.

It didn't take very long until I had full jaw movement. I remember friends telling me this was a big problem for them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OKAY OP? Where are you? My dd is still sleeping. She is in the recliner in the family room. We keep changing the gauze and doing ice every 20 mins.

She was pretty knocked out from what DH said. I was not there.

When DH saw her he said that she kept saying she was Pocohontas and waving to everyone.

 

[daisax]

I had mine out 2 and 2 on separate occasions. Didn't fill the pain killer prescription either time, or need ice. Just went home and went to bed and slept off the anesthesia. (The anesthesia was about 10 mins of iv barbiturate). No swelling, either.

I either had great anatomy or a great oral surgeon (or both), I guess.

 

[krcit]

OKAY OP? Where are you? My dd is still sleeping. She is in the recliner in the family room. We keep changing the gauze and doing ice every 20 mins.

She was pretty knocked out from what DH said. I was not there.

When DH saw her he said that she kept saying she was Pocohontas and waving to everyone.

Did you see the 30 Rock episode when Liz Lemon has a dental procedure? Hilarious. I hope your dd feels better asap!! OP's too!!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Make sure she keeps food in her belly (milkshakes, soup, broth, and mashed potatoes are good) if she's taking pain pills. I got mine cut out when I was 18 and didn't eat much and it was a huge, huge mistake. The last thing you want to do after oral surgery is throw up.

 

[Luv2Camp]

Well, she made it! They had some issues with her blood pressure during the procedure, but it was back to normal when they sent her home. She was concerned about nausea with the pain pills, so they gave her ibuprofin prescription instead. They're doing the job so far!

The food for today has been marshmallow fluff, mashed potatoes, apple juice, grape juice, and mac & cheese (the Kraft!). We've been icing 20 min on an 20 min off all day too. The alcohol/water mixture is WONDERFUL...Slushy, but keeps cold for a long time!

I wonder how she'll be tomorrow. The paperwork says to continue with the ice for a full 48 hours. Speaking of that...Are we supposed to keep ice on her through the night? Every 20 minutes might be rough on me!

Thanks again for the advice from everyone. I love the support from my Dis friends!