Wisdom Teeth Removal Aftercare in Stroudsburg & Bethlehem, PA

What Sets Dr. Chaudhry Apart From Other Oral Surgeons Near You?

Lehigh Valley Oral Surgery and Implant Center is proud to serve the communities across the Lehigh Valley and Pocono regions. Whether you live right near the historic Moravian district in Bethlehem, are traveling from the beautiful mountains near Stroudsburg, or are visiting from surrounding towns like Easton or Allentown, our commitment to providing clear, comprehensive care after getting your impacted wisdom teeth removed is unwavering. 

We utilize the best practices in post-operative instructions and pain management to ensure your healing is as swift and comfortable as possible. Swelling often peaks around day two or three and should then gradually subside during recovery from wisdom tooth removal.

The Critical First 24 Hours: Foundation for Healing

Managing Bleeding and Gauze Packing

Upon leaving Dr. Chaudhry’s office, you will have gauze packing placed over the surgical sites. This pressure is key to forming the initial protective blood clot. Oozing is normal after wisdom tooth extraction, and gauze pads help form a blood clot in the extraction socket.

• Firm Pressure: Keep the gauze pads in place for at least 30 minutes, biting down firmly and continuously. Pressure, not simple soaking, is what stops the bleeding.
• Replacing Gauze: After 30 minutes, carefully remove and discard the old gauze. If bleeding continues, replace it with fresh, folded gauze pads provided by our office and maintain firm pressure for another 30 minutes. Repeat this process until the bleeding has subsided to just a slight, pinkish ooze or redness in your saliva. 
• Avoid Disturbing the Clot: Absolutely avoid vigorous rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound site on the day of surgery. Any suction or disruption can dislodge the critical clot, leading to the painful condition known as a dry socket.

Swelling Reduction and Pain Management

Swelling reduction is vital for comfort and is best addressed immediately. After mandibular wisdom teeth removal, pain and severe pain, as well as swelling, typically peak around days 3-4. and then improve.

• Ice Pack Use: Apply the ice pack to the outside of your face, over the surgical area. Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, continuously while awake, for the first 36 hours. This cold application significantly minimizes swelling. Ice packs should be applied to cheeks for 15-20 minutes at a time during the first 24-48 hours after surgery to reduce swelling and provide more pain control during the recovery period.
• Head Elevation: When resting or sleeping, keep your head elevated with extra pillows. This simple action helps prevent fluid from pooling and worsening the swelling.
• Pain Medication: Take your prescribed pain medication as soon as you begin to feel discomfort, which is often before the local anesthetic fully wears off.

Days 2-7: Sustaining the Recovery Timeline

The days following your procedure are dedicated to protecting the healing site, maintaining oral hygiene, and gradually returning to a more varied diet. Eat a soft food diet for the first three to five days after surgery.

Preventing Dry Socket: The Golden Rule

Dry socket prevention is a central theme of wisdom tooth aftercare. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot dissolves or becomes dislodged, leaving bone and nerve endings exposed. This typically results in intense, throbbing pain that radiates up toward the ear and is not relieved by standard pain medication. Dry socket typically occurs between the third and fifth day after surgery.

• Straw Avoidance: Do not use straw avoidance for at least one week. The sucking motion creates negative pressure in the mouth, which can pull the clot out of the socket.
• Smoking Cessation: Avoid smoking cessation and all tobacco products for at least 72 hours, and ideally for the entire recovery timeline. Tobacco use dramatically increases the risk of dry socket and introduces harmful chemicals that slow healing.
• Avoid Forceful Actions: Refrain from aggressive spitting, sneezing, or forceful blowing of the nose.

Oral Hygiene and Salt Water Rinse

Keeping the mouth clean is essential to prevent infection, but it must be done with great care. After surgery, you should follow oral hygiene instructions provided by your oral surgeon to help prevent infections, complications, and gum disease.

• Gentle Brushing: You may start gentle brushing the day after surgery, but be very careful to avoid the surgical site. Brush your other teeth as normal.
• Salt Water Rinse: Starting 24 hours after surgery, begin a salt water rinse. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Gently swish the solution around your mouth, letting it flow over the surgical site, and then allow it to run out into the sink—do not spit forcefully. Repeat this several times a day, especially after meals. This helps cleanse the area and promotes healing.

Diet and Hydration

• Soft Food Diet: Stick strictly to a soft food diet for the first several days. Think smoothies (drink from a cup, not a straw!), yogurt, mashed potatoes, well-cooked pasta, and soft scrambled eggs. Avoid crunchy, hard, chewy, or spicy foods that could injure the healing tissue.
• Hydration: Maintaining hydration is vital for the body’s healing process. Drink plenty of water and clear liquids, but avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol.

When to Call Dr. Chaudhry: Recognizing Infection Signs

While some pain and swelling are normal, knowing when to call our local oral surgeon is a vital part of your post-operative instructions.

• Signs of Complication: Contact Dr. Chaudhry immediately if you notice infection signs such as:
  • Worsening pain or swelling after the third or fourth day.
  • Fever that persists or is high.
  • Excessive bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure.
  • Persistent foul taste or odor coming from the surgical site.
• Other Symptoms: It is also normal to experience temporary numbness after surgery in the lip, chin, or tongue, known as paresthesia. If this sensation persists for longer than 24 hours, contact the office.

The Path to Full Recovery: Beyond the First Week

By the end of the first week, most patients in Bethlehem and Stroudsburg feel significantly better. Bruising after surgery may be visible on your face or neck; this is normal and will fade within a week or two. Jaw stiffness and soreness should start to fade by the end of the first week after wisdom tooth extraction. You can gradually reintroduce more solid foods as comfort allows.

Strenuous activity avoidance should be maintained for about five to seven days. Stick to light activities and listen to your body’s rest requirements. Your follow-up appointment with Dr. Chaudhry will be scheduled to check your healing progress and address any lingering concerns. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Any Questions During Oral Surgery Recovery? Contact Our Friendly Oral Surgeon!

Call our Lehigh Valley oral surgery center at 484-821-1357 to discuss your wisdom tooth removal and learn more about our commitment to comfortable aftercare. We welcome patients from Easton, Nazareth, and Allentown who are seeking the highest level of surgical and post-operative care.