Wisdom Tooth Lessons

I was given METRONIDAZOLE after the wisdom tooth extraction, supposedly to take it for 5 days. However, by the 3rd-4th day I experienced a bad (metallic) taste in the mouth, achy and painful muscles from the neck all the way to the back, and muscle cramping. Apparently METRONIDAZOLE has some pretty bad side effects, so please be aware if you are taking this medication.

From WebMD:

Wisdom tooth removal usually is effective in preventing:

• Crowding of the back teeth.
• A wisdom tooth becoming stuck in the jaw (impacted) and never breaking through the gums.
• Red, swollen, and painful gums caused by a flap of skin around a wisdom tooth that has only partially come in.
• Gum disease and tooth decay in the wisdom tooth, which may be harder to clean than other teeth, or in the teeth and jaw in the area of the wisdom tooth.

After a wisdom tooth is removed, you may experience:

• Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed. (Not much swelling and little pain for me)
• Bleeding that won't stop for about 24 hours. (My bleeding stopped by the 2nd day.)
• Difficulty with or pain from opening your jaw. (My jaw was just a little sore.)
• Slow-healing gums. (Gums are healing nicely.)
• Damage to existing dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth. (NA)
• A painful inflammation called dry socket, which happens if the protective blood clot is lost too soon. (NA)
• Numbness in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off, due to injury or inflammation of nerves in the jaw. (NA)
• Rare side effects, including (NA):
  • Numbness in the mouth or lips that does not go away.¹
  • A fractured jaw if the tooth was firmly attached to the jaw bone.
  • An opening into the sinus cavity when a wisdom tooth is removed from the upper jaw.

What To Expect After Surgery

In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon. The following tips will help speed your recovery.

• Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.
• While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip, or your tongue.
• Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.
• Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use moist heat-such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out-for the following 2 or 3 days.
• Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
• Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.
• Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.
• After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. In addition, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.
• Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.
• Continue to brush your teeth and tongue carefully.

Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days, if needed.

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