How to Sleep After Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Wisdom teeth removal is a major surgery requiring careful post-operative care. Key tips for safe and comfortable sleep include removing gauze before bed to avoid choking hazards, applying ice packs to reduce swelling, taking pain medications, staying hydrated, and keeping your head elevated. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or side to prevent pressure on the jaw. Additionally, keep necessities like water and pain medication close by.

Although wisdom teeth removal may be commonplace, it’s still considered a major surgery. As with any surgery, there are special considerations about how to sleep after your oral procedure.

This article will share advice from a doctor of dental medicine on how to sleep safely and comfortably after wisdom teeth removal.

How to sleep after wisdom teeth removal

It can take one to two weeks to fully recover from wisdom teeth removal surgery. However, most pain and mouth and cheek swelling subsides after a few days, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Here are a few tips to help you get restful sleep at night after getting your wisdom teeth removed.

1. Remove gauze before bedtime

First things first: Don’t let yourself drift off to dreamland with a mouth full of gauze.

“Sleeping with gauze in the mouth creates a choking hazard and is very dangerous,” warns Laura Lawrence, DMD, a doctor of dental medicine and director of dental services at Signature Health in northeast Ohio. “Oozing from the extraction sites should stop by the time the patient is home, making it safe to remove the gauze and rest.”

2. Apply ice packs

Lawrence recommends using ice packs before going to sleep after wisdom teeth removal. Cold applications minimize pain and swelling.

Many oral surgeons recommend intermittent ice pack application for the first 24 hours after oral surgery.

When awake, you can minimize swelling by applying an ice pack to one side of your face for 20 minutes, switching to the other for 20 minutes, and repeating as often as desired.

3. Take pain medications as needed

Talk to your doctor or dental surgeon about the best medications for managing pain at home.

“If able, keep over-the-counter pain management options like acetaminophen and ibuprofen floating in your system,” suggests Lawrence.

4. Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated helps your body heal faster. Drinking water can also keep the surgical site clean and protect against dry socket, a very painful complication of wisdom teeth removal.

It’s also important to pay attention to the way you drink after oral surgery. Avoid swishing, spitting, and drinking with straws for a few days after wisdom tooth removal.

5. Elevate your head

“Staying elevated while sleeping helps fluids and blood drain away from the surgical sites and reduces inflammation that can cause additional discomfort,” says Lawrence.

She suggests sleeping in a recliner chair, but you can also keep your head elevated by placing an extra pillow or two behind your back and head in bed.

6. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or side

Lawrence says that though side sleeping is considered generally safe after oral surgery, you might want to avoid this position the first night after wisdom teeth removal.

“Side sleeping can put additional pressure on the jawbones and agitate the surgical sites,” she explains.

It’s a good idea to ask your surgeon which sleep positions are safe based on the nature of your procedure. When in doubt, try to sleep on your back, with your head elevated—in a recliner, if possible!

7. Keep necessities close by

Keep a glass of water and pain medication on your nightstand or a side table near the recliner so you don’t have to go hunting for them if you wake up in the middle of the night. Other essentials to keep close may include lip balm, eyeglasses, and your phone.

FAQs

How do you sleep at night after wisdom teeth removal?

According to Lawrence, it’s best to sleep with your head elevated after oral surgery. “A comfortable, well-padded reclining chair is the best place to rest after wisdom tooth removal,” she says.

How can I prevent dry socket while sleeping?

The best way to prevent dry socket while sleeping is to take precautionary measures while awake. According to Cleveland Clinic, you can help prevent dry socket by following all postsurgical instructions and avoiding the following:

  • Smoking
  • Drinking from a straw
  • Hot or carbonated drinks
  • Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods

Should I sleep with gauze in my mouth after wisdom teeth removal?

Never sleep with gauze in your mouth. Sleeping with anything in your mouth presents a dangerous choking hazard. Your surgeon should give you personalized instructions on how long to keep gauze in your mouth after wisdom teeth removal. Many dental surgeons recommend removing the gauze after one hour—or sooner if the bleeding has stopped.

Next up, check out our guide to putting together the best nighttime dental routine for a healthy smile.

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