As long as at least half an hour has passed since your wisdom teeth extraction, it is safe to remove the gauze from your mouth.
Follow all dosage instructions when taking pain medication. Take your pain medication before the anaesthetic has worn off (roughly 8 hours). This will make it easier for you to manage any discomfort caused by your surgery. [3] X Research source Being under continuous pain medication will also help you to get more restful sleep.
Avoid drinking with a straw for at least a week after your surgery. [5] X Research source Don’t drink hot fluids or eat hot food during your recovery. [6] X Expert Source Alina Lane, DDSBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 21 April 2020. Only eat or drink soft, cool foods and fluids as tolerated. [7] X Research source
Make sure you wrap the ice pack in a cloth before applying it to your face. If you’re planning to take a nap for half an hour or less, you can sleep with your ice pack on your cheek. However, avoid sleeping with the ice pack for longer periods, as it will leave your cheek feeling uncomfortably cold. Never apply heat to this area after your extraction surgery. [9] X Research source
If your mouth begins bleeding and you apply gauze to the wound, be sure to not go to bed with this gauze still in your mouth. Wait until the bleeding has stopped (at least 30 minutes) before removing the gauze and going to sleep.
Although this may not be your natural sleeping state, resting with your head upright is by far the best way to naturally reduce the pain in your mouth while sleeping. [12] X Research source Consider investing in a wedge pillow to make sleeping in this position easier.
This will be less of a concern if you sleep in a normal bed with your head propped up by pillows.
Keeping your room between 60 °F (16 °C) and 67 °F (19 °C) will help your body lower its temperature as it gets ready for sleep. If you keep your cellphone next to your bed, turn it over so that the screen faces down as you sleep. This will prevent it from adding unwanted light to your bedroom when new notifications pop up on the screen.
The best scents for creating a better sleep environment are lavender and vanilla. [16] X Research source You can also dip a cotton ball in a scented oil and leave that by your pillow for a quick and easy aromatic experience. Be very careful when lighting candles for maximizing your sleep environment. Do not fall asleep with a candle still burning.
Slow music is generally the best music for falling asleep. Play music with a rhythm between 60 and 80 beats per minute for best results. [18] X Research source Some good genres of music to sleep to may include jazz, classical, and folk music.
