Worried about how wisdom teeth removal will affect your sleep? You’re not alone – many patients share the same concern. And the truth is, the post-surgical discomfort can make getting enough shut-eye a bit more difficult.
Fortunately, with the right approach, you can sleep after wisdom teeth removal. Here, we explain how to get the rest you need when you’re recovering from a tooth extraction.
When your anesthesia wears off, you may be in some pain – and any discomfort can hinder your efforts to fall asleep. Don’t try to tough it out. Instead, set yourself up for a good night’s sleep by taking your pain medication as directed by your oral surgeon.
Choose the Right Position
During the initial stages of healing, the tooth extraction site may ooze. Because of this, sleeping on your side is best, at least for the first night. Plus, if you lie flat on your back, you might experience more swelling. That could increase your pain and make resting an even greater challenge.
After wisdom teeth extraction, you need to sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights. A single pillow should suffice when you’re sleeping on your side. If you’re having trouble falling asleep in that position, pile a few pillows behind you for support and lean back.
Follow Your Aftercare Instructions
For the best chance at snoozing the night away in comfort, you need to pay attention to your oral surgeon’s aftercare instructions. Take good care of yourself when you’re recovering from wisdom teeth extraction, and you’ll have a smoother and easier recovery experience.
To pave the way for a night of restful sleep, follow these guidelines:
Apply ice and heat as directed until the time you go to bed
Keep your physical activity to a bare minimum
Stay hydrated, but don’t drink from a straw
Don’t smoke or use tobacco in any form
Satisfy your appetite before hitting the sack – try milk, fruit smoothies, low-sodium broth or nutritional supplement drinks
Your oral surgeon may have additional recommendations. Listen to their advice, and you shouldn’t have much of a problem sleeping after wisdom teeth removal.
If you have worries about recovering from wisdom teeth extraction and you live in Wayne Township, Wayne County or the surrounding east central Indiana area, make an appointment at Richmond Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
As wisdom tooth extraction specialists, Dr. Partridge and Dr. Alderman have years of experience helping patients through the process. The Richmond Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team can answer your questions, address your concerns and offer expert advice on how to have a positive recovery experience. Contact us and schedule a consultation to discuss wisdom teeth removal today.
Sleep with your head elevated slightly (above the heart). This will keep swelling down. On the third day, change to moist heat instead of ice packs. This will bring the swelling down quicker.
Following oral surgery, we recommend that you sleep with your head and shoulders propped up above your heart level. Add an extra pillow or two to your bed or to the place where you will be resting. If you have a recliner, this is also an excellent way to keep your head elevated.
Try elevating your head by using an extra pillow at night to help reduce swelling and promote clotting. Sleep on your side. Sleeping on your side allows you to more easily keep your head propped up on a pillow compared to sleeping on your back. Apply ice.
Your dentist or oral surgeon gives you medicine through an IV line in your arm to help you feel calm, less anxious and sleepy. You won't feel any pain and won't remember much about the procedure. You'll also get medicine to numb your gums after you become relaxed and feel sleepy. General anesthesia.
When it comes to sleeping position following dental surgery, it is a good idea to make sure to elevate the head. A good angle to achieve while sleeping is 45 degrees. You should sleep in the position for the first 36 to 48 hours following the surgery.
You will be completely numb on the jaw that was operated on, so there is not a great amount of pain. However, the swelling starts up immediately and there is some jaw stiffness to be anticipated. There is some soreness from the breathing tube that the anesthetist places and this soreness will also subside with time.
A maxillofacial surgeon uses a general anesthetic to numb the area. Therefore, you will not feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery. While you may experience pain and swelling around your face after numbness resolves, pain medications and cold compress can help to manage this.
This risk is present until you're fully healed, which may take 7 to 10 days in many cases. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that should have formed in the socket after your extraction is either accidentally removed or never formed in the first place. Dry socket is no longer a risk once the site is healed.
According to postoperative instructions published by Dartmouth-Hitchco*ck, you should rest with your head elevated above your heart for the 24 hours following your tooth extraction.
Ditch the straw and opt for gentle sips from a cup or mug. Spice-less Smoothies: Spicy, crunchy, or acidic foods can irritate the healing socket. Stick to soft, lukewarm, and smooth foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, or smoothies for the first few days.
Dentists stress the importance of anesthesia primarily to ensure comfort during the surgery. Wisdom teeth removal is a surgical procedure that comes with its fair share of discomfort. Without anesthesia, the pain and discomfort could be severe enough to cause intense distress.
IV sedation is administered through an IV line and is very predictable and controllable. Patients do need an escort home and they should fast prior to treatment. For significant dental procedures such as wisdom teeth removal, we at Dansville Dental Professionals recommend IV sedation.
With a typical wisdom tooth extraction, discomfort typically improves after 3 or 4 days, with day three usually being the most noticeable in regard to discomfort. If you are developing an infection or dry socket, the pain may last as long as two weeks without professional treatment.
The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. The second day following surgery is usually the worst day for swelling. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur call my office for instructions. There will be a cavity where the tooth was removed.
During the initial stages of healing, the tooth extraction site may ooze. Because of this, sleeping on your side is best, at least for the first night. Plus, if you lie flat on your back, you might experience more swelling. That could increase your pain and make resting an even greater challenge.
Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows or in a comfortable recliner chair for the first week following surgery. Numbness in the lower jaw and chin will occur after a lower jaw fracture or surgery and in the upper jaw and along the nose and lip following an upper jaw fracture or surgery.
After an oral procedure, you're likely to experience pain and swelling in your face and neck. Additionally, you may experience bruising and a sore throat, leading to disrupted sleep. You must stick to postoperative care if you want to heal quickly, which involves getting proper sleep.
Following any type of oral surgery, including a tooth extraction, you should sleep elevated for the first 2-3 nights. This allows your body to drain more of the fluid away from the extraction site. If you were to lie flat on your back, the amount of swelling is much more likely to increase.
During the initial stages of healing, the tooth extraction site may ooze. Because of this, sleeping on your side is best, at least for the first night. Plus, if you lie flat on your back, you might experience more swelling. That could increase your pain and make resting an even greater challenge.
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