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After Wisdom Tooth Removal

Home Instructions After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Immediately Following Surgery


A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon and can last up to 24 hours. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by biting down firmly on guaze and applying pressure for 60 minutes. Repeat if necessary.  To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. You should not use a straw, rinse or spit on the day of your procedure.  This can promote bleeding.  If bleeding does not subside, call our office for further instructions.


The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 2-3 days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. The ice packs we gave you, or two baggies filled with ice, should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be applied approximately 20 minutes on/20 minutes off while you are awake. After 24 hours, ice has no beneficial effect so do not ice.  If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery.


You should begin taking pain medications as soon as possible.  Medication may be prescribed and you will be given instructions on the usage.


After surgery only liquids and soft diet. should initially be consumed. Any food and beverage should be room temperature to cold, never hot.  Drink from a glass and do not use straws. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clots. A high calorie, high protein intake is very important. Our staff can provide suggested diet instructions. We encourage sports drinks for patients who have had general anesthesia, for better and quicker hydration. Nourishment should be taken regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss any meals. You will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you continue to eat.

Keep the mouth clean

No rinsing of any kind should be performed until the day following surgery. The day after surgery you should begin rinsing at least 5-6 times a day, especially after eating, with a teaspoon of salt mixed into one cup of warm water. You may also be given a prescribed mouthwash you should use as prescribed.


In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on coke, tea, or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine. If it continues you should call our office and an anti-nausea medication may be prescribed for you.


The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur within 3-4 days, call our office for instructions.

Your case is unique, no two mouths are alike. Discuss any problems with the trained experts best able to effectively help you: Dr. Gianoli or your family dentist.

Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites. Use the toothettes that are provided to you over the surgical area.

A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain near the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery.  A dry socket is not general soreness but more to a specific extraction site (s). Call the office if this happens.
