Swelling/Gum pain 12 days post op wisdom teeth
 

My 16 year old had her wisdom teeth taken out 12 days ago. She has rebound swelling and on her post op check up surgeon said mouth healing great and to resume the anti immflatory pills and use moist heat. Did this and swelling did go down.

On Friday she ate a piece of pizza and forgo to take her Alieve before bed. She has continued to swell as the weekend progressed and now the left side is really swollen and the lower gum area is so sore she can't touch the cheek/gum area.

It hurts worse to eat or talk or drink. I am going to call the oral surgeon later today, Sunday!, b/c I am concerned. Would it be crazy to think the jaw went out of alignment or worse? The swelling is SO obvious and she is in a lot of pain...Thanks!

Hi Sabyc,

Hopefully you have gotten a hold of the oral surgeon today and can get your daughter in to see him asap.

It sounds like she may have food lodged or packed in the socket. For the 2-3 weeks following wisdom tooth extractions, the persons diet should ideally consist of soft foods and nothing that requires a lot of chewing because chewing requires a lot of muscular movement of the jaw. The jaw and jaw muscles have been traumatized from the oral surgery. The mouth needs to be propped open very wide to gain access to those teeth and the jaw bone is manipulated with surgical instruments to elevate the tooth from the bone. Both of which cause unnatural pressure and stress on the muscular structure of the jaw, face, head, etc. So it is best to give the jaw a rest for the first few weeks post op and let the muscles calm down.

Even if the surgical sites close over with gum tissue sooner than 3 weeks, the muscles may still need more time to get back to normal. So the soft diet should continue until the jaw feels comfortable when chewing. Otherwise, chewing too early can slow down the healing and it can be months before the muscles calm down.

The oral surgeon or his assistant really should have informed you and your daughter about this along with the other post op instructions.

Please let us know how she is doing...
Bryanna

THanks so much! yes met the surgeon today and he had to reopen her gums to drain the fluid and clean the debris. YUCK. So now they are packed with the clove stuff and have to go back on Tuesday and now on antibiotics. NO IDEA about the limited chewing thanks!

Also now DD is petrified she spit out the clove dressing b/c she as gently rinsing the mouth as per Dr. order to not let food build up and now is worried that she rinsed away the dressing bc can no longer taste cloves. SO assuming this is true/possible is it possible to get dry socket from the mouth being reopened to clean the debris? B/c the dressing was used b/c her wounds healed so quickly this was a way of keeping it from closing. Not sure if I am making sense but her fear is she can now get dry socket b.c clove dressing gone and she spit out blood clot.

Sabyc,

Ugh.... kids ;)

The dressing needed to stay put until he saw her again. Yes, she can develop a dry socket without that dressing in there.

Anytime you have the sockets debrided and dressing placed, it is imperative to rinse with warm salt water VERY GENTLY. Just kind of slush the rinse around the mouth and do not forcefully swish it around because the packing will dislodge. The swishing can be done after the dry sockets heal up.

I would call the OS and tell him the packing is out. He may say to come back today or first thing tomorrow.

Bryanna