How to use gauze pads for wisdom teeth

Q: Do I have to sleep with gauze in my mouth?

You should never sleep with gauze in your mouth because its a potential choking hazard. Its also critical to take care not to fall asleep when youre lying down with gauze in your mouth, especially if youre taking medications that may cause drowsiness.

Most problems that patients face after surgery are related to pain and swelling, bleeding or oozing, dietary difficulties, or medication-related side effects. We have attempted to provide some helpful hints that you may use to minimize any post-surgical difficulties and make your experience as pleasant as possible. If you have any questions, please call our office.

Table of Contents Show

Swelling and Bruising
Medications
Six Things To Do For A Comfortable Wisdom Tooth Extraction
1. Have a Friend With You
2. Dealing With the Bleeding
3. Managing the Physical Discomfort
4. Preventing a Dry Socket
5. Take Your Antibiotics
6. Choose the Right Oral Surgeon
How long do you use gauze after wisdom teeth?
Are you supposed to wet gauze for wisdom teeth?
Do I sleep with gauze after tooth extraction?
Do I have to sleep with gauze in my mouth?

Bleeding

Bleeding is common to some degree in the first 24 hours. Your bleeding should stop within 4 hours after surgery. Oozing and episodes of occasional bleeding may occur for up to 1–2 weeks, and you should not be alarmed. Usually, simple pressure with a wet, rolled gauze pad over the extraction site will stop the bleeding when applied for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the gauze after about 1 hour and replace it if the bleeding persists. A tea bag is often more effective in stopping the bleeding. If bleeding persists, the tea bag may be used like a gauze pad. Take the staple out of the tea bag, dampen it, roll it up, and place it over the extraction site. Bite on the bag for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

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. Apply ice to your face over the surgical areas for about 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off over the first 24 hours.

Pain

Each person experiences pain in a different way, and what may seem like a minor procedure to one person may be very objectionable to another. Although pain may persist for a few days to some degree, it always seems to get better. If your pain does not improve, you may be developing a dry socket. A dry socket is a condition that may develop when the clot in an extraction site breaks down and leaves behind a painful socket that may need to be treated with medicated gauze in the office. Please call us if you are concerned that you may be experiencing unusual discomfort.

Warm saltwater rinses help muscle stiffness and pain. Mix a ½ teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water (as warm as possible without burning yourself). Swish over the extraction site(s) and spit 3–4 times per day for 1 week starting the morning after your surgery. Avoid smoking! Do not use straws, and do not use a Waterpik®.

Take over-the-counter ibuprofen (200 mg) every 6 hours for 3–4 days or the prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. Call us if you develop any nausea, stomach cramps, upset stomach, or notice blood in your stool.

You have been prescribed narcotic pain medication. Take this medication as prescribed on that bottle if necessary.

Infection

Continue to take any antibiotics as prescribed. Unusual swelling or discharge may mean that you have an infection. Please note that your healing wound will appear whitish-grey. A slight elevation in temperature after surgery is common in the first 24 hours and does not necessarily signify an infection.

Brush your teeth. Your teeth need to be clean to help prevent an infection. Use a toothbrush, softened under warm water, and brush gently around the teeth next to your extraction sites. A little bleeding with brushing is common.

Diet

After your surgery, it will be difficult to eat. Hot, spicy foods and sharp particulate foods are especially difficult to chew and may irritate a wound or tooth socket. Softer, bland foods are the best to eat. Jell-O®, cottage cheese, ice cream, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft fish, apple sauce, macaroni and cheese, ground beef in small pieces, yogurt, and well-cooked vegetables are some examples.

You may try more substantial foods as the wounds begin to heal a few days after surgery. Be sure to use care when eating while your mouth is numb. You may expect to be numb from 2 to 12 hours depending on the anesthetic used.

Stitches

We may use dissolving or non-dissolving sutures. The sutures may untie, fall out, or dissolve in a few hours, a few days, or a week. Do not be alarmed by this. We usually remove them at your follow-up visit. They usually do not need to be present for more than a few hours.

Medications

Medications and general anesthetic agents may cause nausea and have undesirable effects. Take your medications with food if they upset your stomach, and please call us if you have any questions.

If you were provided an irrigation syringe because you had your lower wisdom teeth removed, please start using it 5–7 days after surgery.

Please review these tips for the safe use and proper disposal of prescription medications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office at (360) 293-2808. Our after-hours emergency number is (360) 647-4027.

Six Things To Do For A Comfortable Wisdom Tooth Extraction

After your wisdom tooth extraction, your recovery period begins. Because of modern tools and techniques oral surgery, the healing process is the shortest it has ever been. Here are some helpful tips to keep your recovery as quickly and as comfortable as you can.

A Service You Might Be Interested In: Wisdom Teeth Removal

1. Have a Friend With You

You are not going to feel like driving after your surgery and we certainly don’t recommend it. So on the day of your surgery, plan to have a friend give you a ride. If someone else can handle the driving, the prescription, and the many little chores involved, you can focus on your recovery and your comfort.

2. Dealing With the Bleeding

When the surgery is over, the first thing you might notice is the bleeding. Since the surgeon has to make an opening in the gums for a wisdom tooth extraction, you can expect a fair amount of blood. Luckily your surgeon will give you plenty of gauze to staunch the bleeding. Try not to change the gauze out unless it’s bleeding through. The more you disturb the mouth by swapping out the gauze, the longer it will take to stop the bleeding.

If the bleeding doesn’t stop, try adjusting the gauze. The gauze should press against the spots that are bleeding, not just floating nearby to soak up excess blood. Don’t pick at the spot.

Some people have better luck switching to a damp teabag after using gauze to stop most of the bleeding. The tea leaves can encourage clotting and reduce the discomfort in the back of the mouth.

3. Managing the Physical Discomfort

A wisdom tooth extraction is still a surgery, so physical discomfort after the procedure is normal. But you can take steps to lessen the discomfort. First, you may want to take ibuprofen even before the surgery starts. If you wait until you feel like you need it, the discomfort will last longer. Always tell your doctor what medication you’ve taken, so they know what might interfere with your anesthesia.

Plenty of bed rest is still the best course for recovery. After a day, some people will start to feel well enough to resume their daily functions. But others will need longer before going back to their normal routine. Try not to strain yourself; you’ll only make it worse if you exert yourself too early.

4. Preventing a Dry Socket

When the wisdom tooth is removed, the hole where the tooth used to be is called a socket. Typically, a blood clot will form in the socket to protect the sensitive nerves below and encourage healing. But if the clot is dislodged for any reason, a dry socket forms.

Dry sockets are unpleasant post-surgery complications. But they are very preventable. Violent actions like swirling, spitting, or sucking through a straw can all dislodge the blood clot. It does not take much force to cause a dry socket.

Brush gently, eat gently and avoid smoking while you recover. Keeping your head inclined also helps. By following your surgeon’s advice, you will save yourself the needless discomfort of a dry socket.

5. Take Your Antibiotics

If you feel comfortable enough to wean yourself from any prescription or an over-the-counter anesthetic, you can do so without bothering your recovery. But don’t take the same approach with your antibiotics.

Antibiotics fight the risk of infection after surgery. Just because you feel well and recovered, the chances of an infection linger around even after the discomfort is gone. Don’t stop your antibiotic regimen early, or you might end up with an even more serious infection.

6. Choose the Right Oral Surgeon

If you need any kind of oral surgery, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to choose the right professionals. After all, this is your body we are talking about. Whoever you trust with it better be the best.

Beaverton Oral Surgeons has been a leader in the dental industry for over 25 years. We pride ourselves on our experience, our professionalism, and our gold standard care. When you choose us to be your oral surgeons, you can know you’ve made the right choice.

To schedule an appointment with Beaverton Oral Surgeons, call us at (503) 646-7101 or use the form below.

How long do you use gauze after wisdom teeth?

Keep gauze on the surgical area with some pressure (biting) for 30–45 minutes. Remove the gauze after 30–45 minutes and replace it with a new piece of gauze if you are still bleeding. It is important to make sure the gauze is directly on the surgical site.

Are you supposed to wet gauze for wisdom teeth?

Usually, simple pressure with a wet, rolled gauze pad over the extraction site will stop the bleeding when applied for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the gauze after about 1 hour and replace it if the bleeding persists.

Do I sleep with gauze after tooth extraction?

Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink. Do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth. Pay special attention to the placement of the gauze , making sure it is over the surgical site and not just between the teeth.

Do I have to sleep with gauze in my mouth?

You should never sleep with gauze in your mouth because it's a potential choking hazard. It's also critical to take care not to fall asleep when you're lying down with gauze in your mouth, especially if you're taking medications that may cause drowsiness.