After surgery, your body needs time and space to repair. Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes can slow down the healing process and even open the door to painful complications.

Before knowing how to reduce swelling after wisdom teeth removal, understand why it happens. Swelling occurs because of the following reasons:

• Body’s Inflammatory Response: When a wisdom tooth is extracted, your body responds by initiating an inflammatory process. This is a natural response aimed at healing the affected area, resulting in swelling.
• Extraction Difficulty: The complexity of the extraction procedure can significantly impact the degree of swelling.
• Personal health habits: Patients who have lifestyle habits like smoking, excessive alcohol intake or poor oral hygiene are more prone to swelling due to an increased risk of infection and inflammation.
• Individual Healing: Everyone’s body heals differently, so swelling can vary from person to person. Factors such as age, overall health, and pre-existing medical conditions can influence the extent of your swelling.

• Peak Swelling: Swelling typically begins within a few hours and may reach its peak around 48 to 72 hours after extraction. The inflammatory process is intense and you may notice puffiness around your cheeks and jaws.
• Subside: The swelling should begin to subside gradually over the next few days. Most patients will see a noticeable reduction in the swelling by the fourth or fifth day. However, some residual swelling may persist for a week or longer. If it does, you’ll wonder how to reduce swelling after wisdom teeth removal? Over-the-counter medications may help, but it’s best you reach out to your dentist.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after wisdom teeth removal, it’s important to contact your dentist immediately:

• Excessive swelling: If your swelling is severe or doesn’t improve over time, it could be a sign of an underlying issue. Learn how to reduce swelling after wisdom teeth removal right away.
• Severe pain: Pain that doesn’t subside with over-the-counter medication may indicate a problem.
• Fever: A fever is a common symptom of infection.
• Bleeding: Persistent bleeding that doesn’t stop with pressure may require medical attention.
• Difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth: These symptoms could be signs of an infection or other complications

Happy post-recovery process!

Again, how to reduce swelling after wisdom teeth removal? To effectively do this, use ice packs, elevate your head and follow the other steps highlighted in this article to expedite your recovery.

Our dentists at Quinte Smiles are on standby to assist with any challenges you may encounter. If you experience any concerning symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us for immediate attention. We’re committed to ensuring a comfortable and successful recovery for all our patients.