Why Am I So Tired After Wisdom Tooth Extraction (2023)

FAQs

Why Am I So Tired After Wisdom Tooth Extraction? ›

Your body is using energy to heal itself, so you may feel more tired than usual – this is perfectly normal.

In the next 48 hours after your wisdom teeth removal surgery, you may feel some remaining drowsiness or confusion from the anesthesia, sedatives or pain medication, but many feel clear-headed again.

After you get your wisdom teeth removed, it's important to be aware of how you're sleeping. Sleep and good rest is important to heal faster, but you can actually prolong your healing process if you're not careful.

It can take up to 2 weeks to recover from the surgery for having your wisdom tooth or teeth removed. During this time, you may have: a swollen mouth and cheeks – this will be worse for the first few days but will gradually improve; gently pressing a cold cloth to your face helps reduce the swelling.

Nerve injury

Although far less common than dry socket, injury to sections of a nerve called the trigeminal nerve is another possible complication of wisdom tooth removal. It can cause pain, a tingling sensation and numbness in your tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums.

Your body is using energy to heal itself, so you may feel more tired than usual – this is perfectly normal.

It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.

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.

Remember, the first two days after surgery are usually the worst. On the first day, the sedatives and painkillers used during surgery are still in your bloodstream, so you won't feel as much pain as you will on day two.

Bed rest the first 2 days is essential after surgery to hasten recovery and prevent complications. Stay down with your head elevated all day the first day, mild activity on the second day, and do what you feel like you are up to on days 3 and 4.

What is the most painful tooth to extract? ›

What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract.

Most wisdom tooth removal surgeries last about 40-90 minutes. Even if you're having all four of your wisdom teeth removed at once, the procedure typically takes an hour. If your wisdom teeth are in a difficult position or there are unexpected difficulties, the surgery may take a bit longer.

Mild to moderate swelling and bruising may still be present. Avoid strenuous exercise, lifting, or bending, and keep a steady intake of nourishing foods such as yogurt, soup, apple sauce, cottage cheese, and protein shakes. Days 5-7: By now, most of the swelling, discoloration, and soreness should be minimal.

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. Infection can sometimes happen after having wisdom teeth taken out.

Within the first 10 days, jaw stiffness and limitation in range of movement should be completely gone. If you are still struggling to speak, chew, yawn, or smile without pain, it's time to contact your oral surgeon's office.

Avoid hard, crunchy foods such as chips, seeds, nuts, and popcorn until the wounds are healed. This may take up to 6 weeks. These foods are prone to stick in the wounds and may lead to infection.

The surgery itself causes tissue injury. After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn't surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.

Tiredness, exhaustion, or severe and prolonged fatigue are common after surgery – even minor surgery. This is, in part, due to the effects of anesthesia, which often wear off more slowly in older people.

The anesthesia drugs that you have been given can remain in your body for up to 24 hours after their administration. You are not completely “back to your old self” until the anesthetic has been totally eliminated.

Swelling and Bruising

It is common to swell and bruise. Swelling is usually at its worst 48–72 hours after the surgery, and then it begins to improve. Bruising may occur over a few days and resolve within 2 weeks. Ice helps.

What can I do 96 hours after wisdom teeth removal? ›

In 4 solid days (96 hours) after surgery, start using the irrigation syringe on the lower sockets. Place warm salt water in the syringe and place above the socket to irrigate. (Not directly in the socket). It is important to use the syringe for lower sockets only, but not prior to the 96 hours.

A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain to the ear may worsen 4-5 days following surgery and may be accompanied with a foul taste or breath. Call the office if this occurs.

Dry sockets become increasingly painful in the days after a tooth extraction. They may also have exposed bone or tissue, or an unpleasant smell. By comparison, normal healing sockets get less painful over time and do not cause any other symptoms. A dry socket can be very painful, but it is not usually serious.

You can expect some pain and swelling from the wisdom tooth extraction to last for about 3 to 7 days, depending on the type of extraction necessary and your body's natural healing process. However, thanks to over-the-counter pain medications, you don't have to suffer through that pain.

The good news is, within a few hours after your surgery, you can eat normal soft foods and you will be able to consume beverages, just not with a straw. You will be able to go to Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Cook Out or Bojangles in about three or four days. Avoid the hard and crunchy foods for a week.

Dairy contains proteins that can encourage the growth of bacteria and increase the risk of infection. This is because dairy provides an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which can lead to swelling and discomfort in the gums and surrounding area.

What approach was used? Local anesthesia, which involves numbing a specific part of the mouth, will wear off relatively quickly, in some cases within 30 minutes. General anesthesia used for wisdom teeth removal, where the patient is put to sleep during the procedure, takes about 45 minutes to an hour to wear off.

Root canals can be a painful procedure. In fact, many find it to be more painful than an extraction, but the use of local anesthesia can reduce the pain. The procedure starts by first examining the patient's mouth with X-rays. These help to determine the severity of the infection and the number of teeth infected.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, patients who choose root canal treatment are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who opt for tooth extraction. After a root canal, the tooth and the surrounding area may feel sensitive for a few days.

Risks of a tooth extraction are more serious than those that come with root canal therapy. They include: The bone that once supported the tooth will begin to lose its volume and mass. Adjacent teeth may drift out of place, leading to a misaligned bite.

Is it bad 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.

Getting all your wisdom teeth removed on the same day reduces recovery time, and cuts down on the risk of developing dry socket and infections. That said, it's possible to split the procedure into two or three appointments; however, you should listen to your surgeon's recommendation.

After Your Wisdom Teeth Extraction, Don't:

Use straws, suck, spit, or smoke. Avoiding these activities helps maintain the blood clot that forms over the wisdom teeth extraction site. If the clot becomes dislodged, you may have more bleeding, more pain, and a potential side effect called dry sockets.

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. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs.

After three days, you can eat soft food that might involve some chewing, like scrambled eggs and macaroni and cheese. Avoid tough or crunchy foods, including popcorn, hamburgers, chips, chicken breast, salads, and similar foods. You should also avoid acidic, spicy, or sugary foods.

While the blood clot is forming, you may get food particles in the hole. This is perfectly normal. If the food particle isn't too uncomfortable, leaving it alone is an option, and it'll eventually dislodge itself.

After a tooth extraction, you're at risk of developing dry socket. This risk is present until you're fully healed, which may take 7 to 10 days in many cases.

In most cases, this white material is granulation tissue , a fragile tissue made up of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Granulation tissue is part of your body's natural healing process and isn't a cause for concern.

If you have to sneeze, you should sneeze with an open mouth into a tissue. Pressure should not be created in the sinus area, which may dislodge the healing blood clot. An additional procedure may be necessary to close the opening if it persists for more than a few weeks following surgery.

Why don't they stitch wisdom teeth holes? ›

Research shows that sutures will not help the gums or bones heal faster or assist in preventing post extraction infection.

Sandwiches, chips, and orange juice should all be avoided after your wisdom tooth removal, dental implant surgery, orthognathic surgery etc. Too much chewing can possibly re-open the sensitive areas of your mouth, and can cause bleeding or even infection.

You may not be able to control your behavior immediately after getting your wisdom teeth removed. This is because of the anesthesia used during the procedure. However, this will last just a short time as you recover. If you experience extended confusion, contact your doctor.

Days 3-4: While swelling will peak during this time, the throbbing pain will give way to general soreness. Don't be alarmed if it's difficult to open your mouth completely. This will soon subside. Oral hygiene is important to keep the extraction sites clean.

Acute pain and swelling should subside within 2-3 days. Jaw stiffness and soreness should subside within a week or so of surgery, and any bruising should be gone within about two weeks. Typically, bone pain after surgery peaks at the 72-hour mark and then begins to subside.

Upon receiving your implants, you may feel tired and groggy, but don't worry; this is completely normal. Between the effects of the anesthesia and the invasiveness of the surgery, your body isn't used to each of these things. That's why it's a good idea to have someone there to take you home after your appointment.

When Can I Stop Worrying About Dry Socket? Until the full recovery of your extraction site, a dry socket can form if you fail to follow the care tips. Usually, a week (7-8 days) after wisdom tooth extraction, you can stop worrying about a dry socket as gums take this much time to close fully.

On the fourth through seventh days after your tooth extraction, you should begin to feel back to normal, but you should still take care around the extraction site to avoid aggravating it. Continue to eat soft foods and brush the area very gently.

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.

The 3-7 days after your surgery will be when most of your pain, discomfort, and other symptoms will begin to fade. After a week, you will be able to eat more solid foods, but you should still avoid very tough and crunchy foods. You can eat things like pasta and rice.

How soon can I eat rice after tooth extraction? ›

Avoid tough or crunchy foods, such as pizza, rice, popcorn, and hamburger. Avoid spicy and acidic foods. Most patients may resume their normal diet 7 days after surgery.

After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn't surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.

The effects of the anaesthetic can last for 24 hours, or longer if you have had a major operation. You may feel tired or even exhausted afterwards, and this might last for a few days. The healing process after a big operation can also leave you feeling very tired.

Following oral surgery rest and plenty of sleep are crucial for proper healing. Resting gives your body the opportunity to repair itself properly. This is why you are recommended to limit activities following a surgical procedure.

Unpleasant Taste. Another common symptom of a dry socket is a bad or sour taste in your mouth. This can be one of the first signs of infection, so don't let that smell linger without taking swift action.

If pain worsens after a tooth extraction, contact your dentist or oral surgeon immediately for evaluation and treatment. If you don't have access to the doctor who performed the surgery, don't delay in getting emergency help from an urgent care facility or emergency department.