If you’re a teen or young adult about to get your wisdom teeth removed, you probably have some questions. If you’re a parent, even more so. Will the procedure hurt? How long will you need to recover? What should you expect during the process?

We want to help you feel at ease not just before and during your wisdom teeth extractions, but also afterward. At A&N Dental in Tempe, Arizona, our team has extensive experience with the wisdom teeth removal process. So, we compiled our top tips for the recovery period.

Here’s our survival guide to getting your wisdom teeth removed.

What to expect after wisdom teeth extraction

If your dentist says you need your wisdom teeth removed, don’t worry. This is a very routine procedure that usually takes an hour and a half or less. We also offer both local anesthesia and intravenous sedation to make sure you’re completely comfortable during your tooth extraction.

Afterward, you’ll probably experience some swelling, bleeding, and discomfort for one to three days afterward. We can prescribe you pain medication to ease this period for you.

We also send you home with some gauze to press onto the sockets to minimize your bleeding. If you run out of gauze, a moist tea bag also works well.

We recommend planning to spend a few days at home relaxing after wisdom tooth extraction. Queue up your favorite streaming shows and fill your freezer with ice cream. You have a great excuse to take it easy for a few days afterward.

How to make the most of the recovery period

Here are a few quick tips to help you heal quickly and recover comfortably:

  • Stock up on soft foods like soups, pasta, mashed potatoes, and ice cream
  • Use an ice pack on your face to ease swelling
  • Avoid using a straw because it can loosen blood clots
  • Don’t smoke
  • Rinse gently with warm salt water to clean and soothe the area
  • Avoid the area when you’re brushing for at least a few days afterward
  • Drink lots of fluids

Also, don’t be worried if your face swells up after your wisdom tooth extraction. That’s completely normal. You might swell for as long as 72 hours after your procedure.

With that in mind, we recommend scheduling your procedure on a Thursday or Friday to take advantage of the weekend to recuperate.

We hope this guide helps you feel comfortable heading into your wisdom teeth removal appointment.

As we said, our team at A&N Dental has a lot of experience in wisdom teeth extraction. If you have any questions about the process or you need to schedule an extraction, call our office in Tempe, Arizona, or book your appointment online today.