Common side effects of wisdom tooth removal

The wisdom tooth, which is one of the last teeth we have, comes in between the ages of 17-25 years, known as the “age of wisdom” at the very back of your mouth. One of the most common problems that humans suffer at one time in their lives is Wisdom tooth Removal. It is done under a local anesthetic which is very safe, but like any kind of surgery, it also has the risk that can be solved if you take good care of yourself. Hence, you should familiarize yourself with the side effects of wisdom tooth extraction to prepare for the healing journey.

What is wisdom tooth removal?

A wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to take out one or more of the last molars located at the very back of your mouth. This tooth might become painful, infected, or crowd neighboring teeth due to its frequent misalignment or collision. If left untreated, these can cause serious problems with their dental health, and because of this wisdom tooth surgery is done to alleviate pain so that you can improve your quality of life and smile brightly.

Common side effects of wisdom tooth removal

Knowing the Side Effects of Tooth Extraction can help your healing process faster and easier. So, the side effects are:

Swelling and Bruising

Swelling is a normal body response post-surgery. It generally reaches its height within 48 hours and then gradually resolves over the following few days. You may also notice bruising around the jaw and cheeks, which can last for up to seven days.

How to Manage It:

· Use ice packs on the injured area for 15-20 minutes at a time.
· Elevate your head when you sleep.
· Refrain from vigorous activities that could also cause swelling.

Pain and Discomfort

It is normal to expect mild to moderate pain after wisdom tooth surgery, particularly in the first few days. Your Best Dentist in Jaipur will usually administer pain medication or recommend taking an over-the-counter painkiller.

How to Manage It:

· Take prescribed painkillers as instructed.
· Steer clear of spicy, crunchy, or hot foods that may further irritate the surgical site.
· You keep resting and let your body recover.

Bleeding

Bleeding can last about 24 hours after having a wisdom tooth removal but can be considered normal. However excessive or prolonged bleeding should be brought to your dentist’s attention right away.

How to Manage It:

· Bite down lightly on a piece of gauze for 30 to 45 minutes to help slow any bleeding.
· No rinsing or drinking through a straw.
· Avoid smoking and alcohol, which may interfere with clot formation.

Dry Socket

One of the more painful complications of wisdom teeth removal is dry sockets. That occurs when a blood clot at the extraction site dislodges or dissolves prematurely, leaving the underlying nerves and bone exposed.

How to Prevent It:

· Avoid drinking through a straw or forceful spitting.
· Adhere to the aftercare instructions given by your dentist carefully.
· Maintain oral hygiene with caution around the extraction area.

Temporary Numbness or tingling

Sometimes during the extraction, the nerves next to a wisdom tooth could be affected, resulting in temporary numbness of the lips, tongue, or cheeks (temporary paraesthesia). This generally clears up on its own over time.

What to Do:

· Be patient; nerves do take weeks to months to recover.
· If numbness lingers over a long time, seek your dentist for a wide-ranging analysis.

Difficulty in Opening the mouth

After the procedure, some patients have muscle stiffness, and cannot open their mouth very wide. This is referred to as trismus and can last a couple of days.

How to Manage It:

· Use a hot pack to relax the jaw muscles.
· Do gentle stretching exercises with your jaw for mobility.
· Choose soft foods that don’t require much chewing.

Dos and don’ts after wisdom tooth removal (as per dental doctor in Jaipur)

Dos	Don’ts
Follow your dental advice only if you do home remedies first take advice then do it.	Avoid those activities that require more energy for a few days at least.
Eat soft food like mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc.	Do not eat hard, crunchy, spicy food and food that requires more biting process.
Maintain your oral hygiene like gentle brushing and use mouthwash as prescribed by your doctor.	Avoid rinsing your mouth forcefully in the first 24 hours. If you do it gets worse.
Stay hydrated and drink nutritional liquids.	Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 72 hours.
If you notice unusual bleeding and pain then call your doctor immediately.	Avoid straws, touching or poking the extraction side, and do not use that side for eating in which extraction is done.

Final thoughts

“Removing a wisdom tooth isn’t just about taking a tooth out—it’s about setting the stage for a healthier and pain-free smile.” Every surgical procedure comes with some risk but understanding or knowing the side effects makes your journey easy. For that, you should select the best wisdom tooth removal dentist so that you can face minimal discomfort and return to normal life at the earliest without complication.