Recovery varies from person to person. This is what most patients can expect, and
your dentist goes through your own instructions with you before you leave.
- The First 24 Hours
- Expect some oozing for the first few hours, which is normal, and bite gently on the gauze until it settles. Keep your head raised, rest rather than exercise, and leave the area alone. Do not rinse forcefully, spit, or drink through a straw, because the clot forming in the socket is what protects the bone underneath it.
- What to Eat and What to Avoid
- Stay with soft, cool foods for the first day or two, such as yogurt, eggs, mashed vegetables, and smoothies eaten with a spoon rather than a straw. Avoid anything crunchy, seedy, spicy, or very hot, and avoid alcohol and smoking while the site is healing. Chew on the opposite side and return to your normal diet gradually, as comfort allows.
- Swelling and Discomfort (Edema)
- Swelling usually peaks around the second or third day and then eases, and some bruising along the jaw can appear as it settles. A cold compress against the outside of the face helps during the first day, after which gentle warmth is often more comfortable. Your dentist will go through what to take before you leave, and staying ahead of discomfort works better than waiting for it to build.
- How Long Recovery Usually Takes
- Most people feel ready for their normal routine within about three to five days, though this varies with how the teeth were positioned and how many were removed. The gum tissue generally closes over the following two to three weeks. Bone continues to fill in underneath for several months after that, which happens quietly and is not something you tend to notice.
- When to Call the Office
- Call our office if bleeding has not slowed after the first several hours, if discomfort is increasing rather than easing after the third day, or if you notice a foul taste or odor that does not clear. A deep ache that begins a few days in can mean the clot has been disturbed, which is treatable and worth being seen for promptly. Also call for a fever, swelling that grows after day three, or numbness that has not faded, and seek urgent care for any difficulty breathing or swallowing.