How to reduce swelling in face after wisdom teeth surgery

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Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars. People get them during their teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can do great when they are correctly aligned and healthy. However, these teeth usually break through the gums only partially, or they are often misaligned. That’s when your dentist would suggest wisdom teeth removal Sydney to avoid further complications. Wisdom teeth extraction is a simple procedure carried out on the dentist office. There is no risk or pain you will feel with it. If your dentist suggests you wisdom teeth removal, go for it. Here are some tips to take care of yourself during the recovery phase.

Recovery Phase:

The recovery speed after wisdom teeth removal depends on how the extraction was. Was the tooth impacted in the jaw bone, or was the extraction simple? In both the cases, there will be some post-operative swelling as a result of surgical trauma. How severe the swelling is, will again depend on the complexity of the extraction.

To Reduce Swelling – First 24 Hours:

In the first 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal Sydney, the aim is to minimise the amount of swelling. For this, you should apply cold packs on the area of your cheeks where the tooth was extracted. You can start keeping ice packs as soon as the surgery is done.

• You can use a cold pack available at pharmacies, or even a frozen bag of peas will work. Whatever the source you have chosen, wrap it in a dishtowel.
• Hold it against the outside of your face firmly for 15 minutes, leave it for another 15 minutes, and repeat.
• The cold will cause blood vessels in the surgical area to constrict, reducing the volume of fluids that are transported around the tissues and thus reduce the amount of swelling.

Remember, you will be feeling numb from the anaesthesia, so don’t fall asleep with the ice pack pressed on your cheek.

To Reduce Swelling – 48 To 72 Hours:

You cannot prevent swelling entirely with the cold compress however, you can bring it down quickly with a warm compress.

Generally, swelling is considered to reach its peak 48 to 72 hours after cheap wisdom teeth removal Sydney, and that is when you should start using a warm compress, not before. Follow what your dentist recommends.

• Get a heat pack or a wet towel. You should warm the swollen area and not burn it.
• Hold it against the swelling area at every 20 minutes gap.
• The heat from the compress will cause your blood vessels to dilate, enabling them to carry over the fluids that cause swelling.

If your swelling hasn’t subsided by the fourth day, you should talk to your dentist. Although complications are rare, they are possible. So talk to your dentist right away when you notice severe pain, pus, or develop a fever.

An additional tip after affordable wisdom teeth removal cost Sydney while sleeping, keep your head elevated to reduce further swelling.

Tags: wisdom teeth removal

Having surgery to extract your wisdom teeth is often a necessary procedure, and many people who have had these teeth removed have experienced chipmunk cheeks. Just because it’s completely normal, though, doesn’t mean it’s pleasant. Keep reading if you want to know more about:

• What Causes Chipmunk Cheeks After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
• How Can You Reduce the Swelling?

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What Causes Chipmunk Cheeks After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

If you’re wondering why your cheeks are swollen post-surgery, think about any other injuries you may have had in your life. An ankle swells after rolling your foot, as does your head after being hit with a ball.

Now that you’ve thought of those examples, let’s go back to your cheeks after wisdom teeth surgery. This oral procedure involves a dental professional cutting and digging in your gums in order to extract the teeth. Naturally, your cheeks will swell after the surgery is over.

Swelling is the body’s natural reaction to an injury. Specifically, acute swelling -- swelling that takes place within 24 hours -- is what occurs after you have your wisdom teeth removed. Your body is attempting to heal the parts that have been damaged, which are in this case in your mouth. 

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How Can You Reduce the Swelling?

Usually, you won’t notice any swelling until the day after your surgery. It reaches its peak 2 to 3 days after and can remain for a few days, which is nothing to worry about. Your chipmunk cheeks should be completely gone within a week.

While swelling around your cheeks, mouth, and sides of your face is inevitable, there are ways to reduce it, like:

• Taking corticosteroids
• Applying ice and heat to your face (at different times, of course)
• Elevating your head 

Corticosteroids 

Cortisone-like medicines are used to treat redness, itching, and other symptoms of diseases like skin problems or asthma. You might be wondering how they can help people who have had their wisdom teeth removed. As it turns out, another function of corticosteroids is to reduce swelling. 

A study done in 2016 concluded that corticosteroids can help combat swelling, pain, and lockjaw in patients who have had their wisdom teeth extracted. While corticosteroids leave the bloodstream within 24 hours, the effects can last for up to three days. Before taking anything, talk to your dentist first.

Ice, Ice, Baby

During the first 24 hours post-surgery, you’ll want to apply ice packs to the outside of your face. Place an ice pack on the area for 15 minutes, then leave it off for 15 minutes. Repeating this process will help reduce the swelling.

Just Heat It 

Like mentioned previously, swelling peaks 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. When applying heat to your face, make sure it’s not too hot, as you don’t want to burn yourself. 

The process of applying heat to your face is relatively the same as applying ice packs, except you can apply heat for 5 extra minutes. Wrap a heating pad or a hot water pad in a towel and place it against your cheeks. Keep it on for 20 minutes, leave it off for 20 minutes, then repeat.

Keep Your Head Up

Elevating your head is one of the most important things you can do after you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed. This means sleeping with your head elevated and keeping your head up throughout the day, as this allows the fluid to drain from your face.

Sleeping with your head propped up with multiple pillows can help decrease the chipmunk cheeks. However, don’t be alarmed if you wake up one morning and your cheeks are more swelled than the night before -- it’s normal to have more swelling in the morning.

While post-wisdom teeth surgery chipmunk cheeks are not the most pleasant thing to experience, the healing process is relatively quick, usually lasting only a week or a week and a half. If it’s past that time frame and you’re still experiencing swelling, contact your dentist, as there might be a problem. Otherwise, if you adhere to the advice in this article, you should be good to go.