An aching wisdom tooth that just wants to be pulled out is the most daunting and painful experience that a teenage can experience. The pain strikes through the brain making the pain more and more unbearable. That’s the reason a wisdom tooth needs to be taken out to ease the pain.

However, recovery is as painful as having the wisdom being there. The first few days can still be a pang of pain especially if you don’t know how to remedy the pain. There will be more sleepless nights. To help you sleep better, here’s a few remedies that you can do.

Sleeping Well After Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom tooth recovery is no fun especially during bed time. It’s painful and uncomfortable. It’s a hard feeling especially when all you want is a good rest.

Try this out while recovering from a wisdom tooth removal:

  1. Elevate your head

The sleeping position matters on easing the pain from a wisdom tooth removal. On the first few days after your operation, use more pillows to achieve a body angle of 45 degree. Try practicing this sleeping position to improve your feeling and have the pain slowly go away. If you’re uncomfortable with using multiple pillows in one go, try using a travel pillow instead. This too, does a great job on elevating your head.

Most dentists highly recommend this sleeping position because elevating the head when sleeping can tone the blood vessels and blood volume on the wound. When laying flat, it makes the wound harder to relax. That’s why it feels painful. It also helps the wound to stop from swelling since the blood is circulating regularly.

  1. Ice those cheeks after the surgery

Just like injury of any other body part, your mouth area is pretty much injured. Wisdom teeth are huge to be taken out and that’s the reason why it creates a big impact with your mouth. After your wisdom tooth was removed, you need to ice it immediately or at least within 20 minutes from removal. You will need to keep icing it the whole time within 36 hours from the removal period.

Icing the affected cheek can soothe the pain and swelling from your wisdom tooth making you feel better especially during bed time. Using an ice pack within this period can make your recovery way faster since the wound heals by staying cold. To be comfortable while sleeping, you can get a head wrap ice pack that smartly attaches on your head so you don’t have to hold it.

  1. Gargle with salt water

Salt water has a lot of healing properties especially the ones that are highly saturated. This stops the inflammation from the wound where your wisdom tooth was taken out. It’s also hitting two birds with one stone since you’re also helping the rest of your gums to have a healthier condition. The pain eases out which helps you sleep better at night.

To make a salt water solution, all you need to do is mix: half a glass of warm water and 1 tablespoon of Himalayan salt or rock salt. Mix it well until the salt has dissolved. Gargle it around your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit it out. Do this routine at least thrice a day until you recover.

  1. Hydrate by drinking lots of water

Dry mouth can attract more bacteria and germs in your mouth. Never allow or leave your mouth dry throughout the day. Hydrate it with constant intake of fluids, especially water. The more bacteria that crowds your mouth, the more your wound becomes inflamed. Dryness messes up with the right amount of pH that your mouth needs to be balanced and without it, cavities can build up overtime.

Keep drinking water as a regular habit even after you recover. This will maintain your mouth, gums and teeth in a good state. They will thank you later. Make this as a part of your overall hygiene.

  1. Always prevent the dry socket

What makes it more uncomfortable when sleeping is when the blood clot on the wound was misplaced. Without the blood clot present, it can cause so much pain since it reveals the bone inside. More exposure can be prone to pain and sleepless nights. Never let this happen especially after the surgery and avoid touching it when eating.

Make sure you follow your dentist’s advice when you come home to avoid this problem. Make sure you don’t take out the gauze when you don’t have a replacement yet. Always have a water soaked gauze handy when replacing the old ones and apply immediately. When rinsing with salt water, do not swish it too much and do it slow. Turn into a soft diet for the mean time until you recover for best results.

  1. Practice proper oral hygiene

Still brush your teeth, tongue and cheeks constantly but do it slow as well as when you gargle. Don’t do more. As long as you’re maintaining it to be clean, it becomes less painful. Clean your teeth three times a day just like what the dentist advises.

  1. Rest a LOT

It might be hard to sleep or rest well when the pain is still there but when you’re lack of rest, it makes your recovery slow. Try to rest and do not exert extra effort that can have your wound bleed a lot. Do away with lifting weights. For now, a good bed rest is the best solution.

We hope that these remedies can help you sleep better after your wisdom tooth removal. Stay safe and healthy!

How long do I have to sleep sitting up after wisdom teeth removal?

Keep your head elevated while resting or sleeping for 3-5 days after surgery to minimize swelling. Swelling may be worse on your third day after surgery.

How long does it take for wisdom teeth holes to close up?

Your tooth hole will be fully or almost fully closed about 6 weeks after surgery. The indentation will usually fill in and heal completely after several more months. Surgical extraction is often required to remove: an impacted tooth, such as wisdom teeth that don’t erupt into your gums.

Do you sleep with gauze in after wisdom teeth removal?

It is not unusual to have residual bleeding after tooth extraction for up to 24 hours. It is advisable to use an old pillow case as not to damage your favorite ones. Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink. Do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth.

How do you rest after wisdom teeth removal?

for 24 hours, avoid rinsing, spitting, hot drinks or anything else that may dislodge the blood clots that form in the empty tooth socket (they help the healing process) avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for 24 hours. eat soft or liquid food for a few days and chew with your other teeth.

Is the third day the worst after wisdom teeth removal?

Swelling and discoloration around the eye may occur. The swelling will build over the first 48 to 72 hours and then plateau for 2-3 days making the 3rd-5th days the worst for pain and swelling.

Can I sleep on my stomach after wisdom teeth removal?

It is not recommended to sleep on your side or on your stomach because it can squish your cheeks, adding extra pressure to the area. It will also direct more blood to the area via gravity.

Is it best to get all 4 wisdom teeth out at once?

It’s Better to Take Out All Wisdom Teeth at the Same Time

Even if they emerge from your gums without any problems, they can force the surrounding teeth to become misaligned, which leads to some discomfort and makes them harder to keep clean because they are so far back in your mouth.

Can I swallow saliva after wisdom teeth removal?

Do not spit out, swallow your saliva or you will disturb the clot and you will bleed. Don’t rinse out, or you will bleed. When you swallow you are swallowing 99% saliva and 1% blood.

Why is wisdom tooth extraction pain worse at night?

The main reason why toothaches are more painful at night is our sleeping position. Laying down causes more blood rush to our heads, putting extra pressure on sensitive areas, such as our mouths. We don’t feel that throbbing sensation as much during the day because we’re mostly standing or sitting.

How do I know if I have dry socket or normal pain?

You probably experience a dry socket if you can look into your open mouth in a mirror and see the bone where your tooth was before. The explicit throbbing pain in your jaw represents another telltale signal of dry sockets. The pain may reach your ear, eye, temple or neck from the extraction site.

How can I stop wisdom tooth pain at night?

Getting rid of a toothache at night
  1. Use over-the-counter pain medication.
  2. Keep your head elevated.
  3. Avoid eating acidic, cold, or hard foods right before bed.
  4. Rinse your teeth with mouthwash.
  5. Use an ice pack before bed.

Should I brush my teeth after wisdom teeth removal?

Brush your teeth. You can disrupt your stitches if you brush your teeth, use mouthwash or rinse your mouth the first day. After 24 hours, you can gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water and brush your teeth, but take special care to avoid the stitched area.

How do you syringe wisdom teeth holes?

Starting 5 days after surgery, fill syringe with warm salt water and gently irrigate extraction sockets by placing tip of the syringe into socket and flush. Repeat until water comes out clean and clear. Sockets should be irrigated, at least twice daily, preferably after every meal, until sockets have fully healed.

When can I stop rinsing with salt water after wisdom tooth extraction?

DO NOT rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours after surgery. After that, rinse gently with the oral rinse, if prescribed by your doctor, or with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) 2-3 times a day for 1 week.

Can I use toothpaste after wisdom teeth?

No brushing or rinsing of any kind should be performed for the rest of the day after surgery. Brushing can be started on the first post-operative day. For the first 5 post-operative days, do not spit the toothpaste out. To remove the toothpaste let it drool out of your mouth.

Is it bad to get food stuck in wisdom teeth holes?

Food will probably get stuck in the sockets until they close over completely. This may cause problems with bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. You can rinse with salt water as described on page 4 to help keep your mouth clean.

How long do I have to wait to brush my teeth after an extraction?

BRUSHING: For several days after the extraction, it is important to keep the area as clean as possible to prevent infection and promote healing. Do not directly brush the extraction site for the first 3-4 days after surgery to prevent dislodging of the blood clot from the socket.

When can I stop worrying about dry socket?

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.