Wisdom teeth often need to be removed because a person does not have enough room for them, or they may become impacted, which prevents them from growing in properly. The procedure is often done by an oral surgeon, who surgically extracts the wisdom teeth from the jaw. Like most surgeries, wisdom teeth extraction requires a recovery period, but you can use the following tips to help the healing process along and stay as comfortable as possible:

Plan on a Few Days Off

When you schedule your wisdom teeth extraction surgery, it is a good idea to plan for a few days off from work and school. After surgery many people are quite sore and swollen, and may be groggy due to the use of prescription pain killers, so it is not uncommon to schedule the surgery on a Friday and then take Monday off from work/school if needed.

Stay on Top of the Pain

Every person has their different tolerance for pain, so after having your wisdom teeth are removed you can experience anything from dull to excruciating pain. The best thing you can do is stay on top of the pain by taking the pain killers prescribed by your oral surgeon according to direction.

Even if you don't feel uncomfortable or in a lot of pain, it is not a good idea to skip a dose of your pain killers because pain can come on suddenly as your last dose of medication wears off. The last thing you want while recovering from wisdom teeth extraction is have to sit around in pain while you wait for pain killers to start working.

Keep your Mouth Clean

Immediately after the surgery, you may want to avoid brushing your teeth while your mouth is bleeding and blood clots around the incision sites are forming. But in the days following the surgery, you can brush your teeth gently; just being careful to avoid the incisions. Another way to keep your mouth clean after surgery is to gently swish salt water or antibacterial mouth wash regularly to kill germs. Some oral surgeons also advise patients to use a syringe filled with water to clean the incision sites after eating to prevent food particles from becoming stuck in the incisions and causing an infection.

Avoid Dry Sockets

A dry socket occurs when a blot clot in the incision site is dislodged and exposes the jaw bone and nerves. This can be an extremely painful condition that can also extend the healing period. You can help prevent dry sockets by eating soft foods that won't irritate or get stuck in the incision sites in the first few days after surgery, avoiding drinking beverages through a straw, and if you are a smoker, avoiding smoking cigarettes while you are recovering from wisdom teeth extraction. Contact a company like Altoona Center For Oral Surgery & Maxillofacial Surgery for more information.