wisdom teeth extraction - what is normal afterwards

[SarfEasticated]

I had 3 wisdom teeth out on Monday under GA, was slightly swollen yesterday, today I look like i am popeye. How many days until A) I can eat normal food B) i look normal? Have horrible sore throat too is that what you would expect.

Thanks in advance!

Sorry you are in pain.

I was sore for about a week, on mushed up foods for about a week and looked normal about 2 weeks later.

Sorry if that is not what you want to hear! I was awake for all my extractions and they have to use a fair old bit of force so the bruises can be quite intense.

Hope you feel better very soon.

I had just out by GA a few weeks back. I had further bleeding an hour later so was rushed back to be re-stitched.

The pain was worst 2/3 days later. The swelling took a good 10 days to go down completly.

Have you got disolving stitches in? I had to cut them out as they started to fall out, as did the packing.

Delightful eh?

Co-codamol and ibuprofen together will help with the pain. Salt mouth wash if they've not given you Cordasil (sp?) MW. You need to keep your mouth SUPER clean. Lots of swilling out, especially after you eat.

Soft stuff is best for at least 48 hours, then see how you feel.

The worst thing is the brusing to the jaw, they aren't gentle with you.

Huge hugs x

Thanks for your replies Munkii and mouseface ? My mind boggles thinking about what they might have done to me. Whacked me repeatedly with a hammer it feels like. I am just drinking soup through a straw as can't really open my mouth properly. I didn't realise it would be this bad! How much time did you take off work? I am signed off for a week.

Mumkii - it must have been pretty harrowing being awake throughout
Mouseface - Not very heartening to hear that you had to take your own stitches out! That must have been a blast. I do have dissolving stitches so hope they'll do their stuff. I haven't actually done the swilling with salt water yet - it must really sting

It is the bruising that is the worst, you're right. Can you do anything to help it go down?

Sarf, I'm a dentist and had all my wisdom teeth out under local. They will swell, particularly if they were impacted and by the sounds of it yours were as you have had stitches. It's an operation, the same as a medical one but unfortunately it's not easy to rest your mouth (there are at least 5 muscles involved in opening your jaw) as it is to say, rest your ankle. You would have been warned about post op pain, swelling and limited opening?

Not sure what mouse means about the stitches but dissolvable stitches are supposed to fall out, hence dissolvable, if they hadn't started to fall out, well then they wouldn't have been dissolvable. Don't quite understand what is wrong with dissolvable stitches dissolving!

OP, ignore the stitches, they do their thing long before they start to dissolve (primary healing takes place within 72 hours). Stick with paracetamol, ibuprofen (if you can take them) hot salty water-doesn't sting, I have been there- and not smoking (if you do) and leave the sockets alone as much as possible.

You won't miss the wisdom teeth but it is sore post op, like any other operation you may have/had.

If you are worried speak to your dentist, you will be fine.

Just to add a sore throat is common after a GA as you were intubated.

Get some arnica tablets. Personally I didn't believe in them until I took them for something and found them really useful.

I had 2 impacted wisdom teeth out under local anesthetic 2 years ago and the experience for me was worse than childbirth (I can say that as you have already had them out!)
I remember waking up crying in pain for 2 nights after having them out and painkillers never did any good at all.
It took about a week for the pain to go away completely and a bit longer before I could eat properly again.
The sore throat is probably from the force they use pulling and levering the teeth out, my jaw was very swollen afterwards from the pressure they put on it and I can imagine they won't be so gentle if you are under GA and can't tell them to stop!

Thanks all - dentistry is pretty brutal isn't it - no disrespect meant to your profession Grumpystiltskin
They were impacted so it must have been quite a wrench to get em out.
I thought that the sore throat may have been a sign of infection but don't have a temperature so must be ok. Anyway onwards and upwards! and thanks again