how to deal with wisdom tooth pain and surgical removal
a ns dentist offers tips for getting through wisdom tooth removal and recovery
6 minute read
“studies have shown that surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars should be carried out well before the age of 24 years, especially for female patients,” dr. justin yeoh says.
contributed
liv silver of st. john’s, nl, recently joined the ranks of young adults who have had their wisdom teeth removed.
after having her bottom two wisdom teeth out, which were very impacted, silver was told to make sure to do all the normal things: rinse with salt water, use the prescription mouthwash she was given and take all the pain medication.
to help her with the pain, swelling and bruising, silver and others have found a few hacks that worked, so we’ve gathered some of the top tips people who have been there and done that have to offer.
it’s important to note that prior to trying any hacks or other remedies, always check with the dentist or oral surgeon. to ensure these practices are medically sound and advisable, dentist dr. justin yeoh, a dentist who practices in berwick, ns, and ontario, weighed in to ensure their accuracy.
when and where to have surgery to remove wisdom teeth
have the surgery when you are young.
yeoh, who has literally extracted tens of thousands of wisdom teeth, says that according to the evidence, having our wisdom teeth out when we are younger means patients will heal better and faster. there’s also less chance of complications such as infections.
“studies have shown that surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars should be carried out well before the age of 24 years, especially for female patients,” he added.
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older patients are at greater risk of postoperative complications and permanent consequences.
part of that, he adds, is being proactive instead of reactive.
“very often, when we wait until it hurts, but the tooth in front of it may be damaged,” he explains.
berwick dentist, dr. justin yeoh, offers some tips for getting through wisdom tooth surgery. contributed
finding someone with lots of experience is also key. yeoh notes that a surgeon’s lack of experience could also be a major factor in the development of postoperative complications. find someone with lots of experience with wisdom tooth extraction.
the dos and don’ts of healing and general care
- keep hydrated no matter what. electrolytes are important for healing — don’t just drink water, but make sure to have salt and electrolytes.
- only consume liquids for the first week after surgery to help prevent dry socket.
- do not use a straw for 10 days minimum.
- don’t eat the things the dentist says not to. this includes seeds or anything small that may get stuck in the extraction site, any food that requires a lot of chewing, hot food like soup or drinks that may dissolve or dislodge the clot, says yeoh.
reducing bruising, swelling and bleeding
post surgery, silver was told that to make the swelling go down quickly, make sure to put ice on it. she found, however, holding the ice packs to both sides of her face made her arms tired. so, she decided to get creative.
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she rolled a towel lengthwise and fastened the two ends together with a hair elastic on the top of her head. she then filled a couple of small ziploc bags with crushed ice and tucked them against her cheek.
“the towel held it there nicely and caught all the drips. i looked like a giant rabbit, but it did the trick,” says silver.
if you don’t fancy fashioning one yourself, try buying a velcro jaw-bra that attaches to your head and holds ice packs in place. be sure to get extra ice packs for it so you can swap them out as they thaw.
“that was a game changer for my son’s recovery. it allowed his hands to be free, so he didn’t have to hold the ice packs in place,” said a mom who recently went through this with her child.
stick with ice on and off. although some people may want to try using heat to reduce the swelling, yeoh says heat may sometimes worsen it during the early stages. in some cases, however, when the patient has a limited ability to open their jaw after surgery, he says they do suggest a heat compress to increase the blood flow.
a steeped and cooled tea bag gently held on the extraction wound can help with swelling and bleeding due to the tannic acid.
cleaning
ask your dentist for a syringe with an irrigating tip on it.
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when an erupted tooth is removed, the socket is filled with a blood clot and is exposed to the oral environment, explains yeoh. in some cases, food that gets lodged in it can cause irritation.
yeoh typically gives patients a syringe for at-home use and advises patients not to use it for the first few days, as aggressive rinsing may dislodge the blood clot.
for those who can’t use saline rinse, there are other options, like peridex, that can be prescribed.
drugs and medication
take tylenol immediately before surgery so it will kick in immediately afterward.
yeoh says they typically recommend taking a combination of advil (ibuprofen) and tylenol (acetaminophen) as long as the patient has no allergies or contraindication to it.
studies have shown this combination works better than opioids alone, he explained. in certain cases, however, opioids may be prescribed if the provider deems appropriate, he adds.
studies have also shown that pre-emptively prescribing antibiotics before a procedure does not reduce the rate of infection, explains justin. there are a few common indications that would require antibiotics, such as an immunosuppressed patient, a patient with a certain heart defect or someone with active infection and swelling.
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overprescribing antibiotics is not beneficial for our population in general due to the rise of antibiotic resistance, meaning more bacteria are resistant to the commonly prescribed antibiotics now, he notes.
take all medications, especially any antibiotics, as prescribed, he adds.
myth busting
there are plenty of myths out there that patients shouldn’t fall for, yeoh says. some of them include:
pineapple juice and wisdom teeth
yeoh says there is a social media trend where people suggest that pineapple juice is a natural remedy for wisdom teeth pain and swelling due to its high bromelain content. bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples that has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which can potentially help reduce swelling and inflammation, alleviate pain, and speed up healing.
although there is some scientific evidence supporting these claims, the research is not definitive, says yeoh. the bromelain in pineapple juice may help to some extent, but it’s unlikely to provide complete relief from wisdom teeth pain and swelling. research in these studies often included bromelain supplements, not pineapple juice.
it’s important to note, he says, that pineapple juice contains far less bromelain than supplements and that the bromelain in juice may not be as effective due to other components of the juice.
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more research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of pineapple juice for wisdom teeth, explains yeoh.
bone spurs
sometimes what can happen, typically on the inner part of lower jaw, is that a piece of bone may not receive adequate blood supply after the extraction and becomes exposed to the oral cavity, says yeoh. this can be quite uncomfortable, but in most cases, it will work itself out. on some occasions, your dentist will have to administer some anesthetic and round it off, he says.
this bone spur is often mistaken for a tooth being left behind. tooth and root fragments are never left behind unless they are in close proximity to vital structures such as the nerve of the jaw, explains yeoh. your provider will inform you if he or she did leave a fragment behind.
as long as the fragment is small and not infected, there is no adverse effect.
when should you get help?
yeoh says there if certain circumstances arise, the patient should contact the office. this includes:
- severe pain or swelling
- difficulty opening your mouth
- prolonged bleeding
- signs of infection, such as fever or pus
when to be patient?
justin says it’s important to remember that everyone and every case is different. some cases are harder, which tends to lead to more discomfort. easier ones tend to have less discomfort. but in general, everyone has a different tolerance to pain.
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yeoh says they tell people that “it has to get worse before it gets better.”
usually, this means in the first few days, you might notice an increase in swelling or discomfort. remember, medications are there to help you, he says. this tends to peak around day three or four. after that, there should be improvement, but if not, contact your dental office for support.
this article was originally published in the st. john’s telegram on july 2, 2025.
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