Recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction usually lasts between three and four days although it will depend on how severely the teeth were impacted and where they were coming in.

Once the anaesthetic has worn off, it is normal to experience some pain for the days following your wisdom tooth extraction. The pain will be most affecting during the first two days after the procedure so make sure you’re taking the pain medication prescribed to you by your dentist to help alleviate the discomfort.

In the hour after your wisdom teeth removal, you may experience some bleeding at the site of the extraction. Continue to bite down firmly on the gauze pads that have been placed over the surgical areas. You can remove the gauze pads after an hour or so but replace them if the bleeding continues. You should contact your dentist if the bleeding continues for more than 24 hours.

Swelling will also occur both on the inside and outside of your mouth. To reduce it, you can use an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel and applied to your cheeks. Accompanied with the swelling, you might also notice some discoloration of bruising on your cheeks – this is also normal, so don’t fret. 

Finally, you might experience some jaw stiffness post wisdom teeth removal. This could last anywhere from a few days to two weeks – be sure to eat a soft diet during the first few days and don’t attempt to force your jaw open.