Experiencing pain in the back reaches of your mouth is a significant symptom of wisdom teeth. This pain gradually increases with time as the teeth start erupting. Tenderness of the gum and swelling around the site are also a symptom of wisdom teeth.

When is it Time to Visit an Oral Surgeon?

Wisdom teeth that come out fine require no medical assistance. If you experience pain and discomfort, you need to see your dentist. But before you get a surgery done, you would want to verify its presence—which can be achieved by a radiograph.

Once the presence of an impacted wisdom tooth is confirmed, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon. From their onwards, an extraction process will be carried out to make sure the teeth don’t cause any more trouble.

Why do Wisdom Teeth Cause so Much Trouble?

Since wisdom teeth appear at far back in your mouth, they always aren’t welcomed. Most of the times they don’t come out normally which makes them impacted. They get trapped in the jaw bone or gums, which causes trouble.

At times the teeth erupt at an angle. They start pressing on the tooth next to them which results in pain. A jaw can hold a specific number of teeth which varies from person-to-person. Often the teeth start coming out and you mount doesn’t have enough space to accommodate it. Lastly, the toothbrush can’t always reach the backend which leaves the tooth open for cavities and gum diseases.

Post-Surgical Tips to Healing

Pain and swelling are part and parcel of oral surgery. There might also be some bleeding. While it heals, you need to make sure you don’t dislodge the blood clot or harm your gums. Avoid consuming alcohol, coffee or soda in the next few days and follow the instructions of your oral surgeon.

Typically, the recovery process takes between 4 days to a week. The length of the post-extraction recovery period largely depends upon the damage done by the erupting teeth. For recovery, here are some tips you need to follow:

• Avoid eating solid foods for at least a week.
• Place ice packs over your jaw to help with swelling.
• Avoid brushing, spitting, rinsing, and flossing for 24 hours.
• Rinse with salt water to keep infections at bay.
• Consume yogurt, apple sauce, and fruits to reduce stress on the blood clot.
• If you experience pus discharge, refer to your oral surgeon immediately.
• Don’t use straw as sucking can loosen the blood clot.

Since you experience pain post-surgery, take prescribed pain killers to ease it up. Moreover, start excursing your jaw by gently opening and closing it and report to your oral surgeon if you have a fever.

Ready to Lose the Pain of Wisdom Teeth in Houston?

If you’re in our area, schedule a consultation with our oral surgeon. There’s no need to live with painful wisdom teeth in Houston—we are here to help!