When to stop taking ibuprofen after wisdom teeth removal

It can take up to 2 weeks to recover from the surgery for having your wisdom tooth or teeth removed.

Table of Contents Show

Self-care advice
Working and driving
Returning to normal
How long should I take ibuprofen after wisdom teeth?
How long do you need to take painkillers after wisdom teeth removal?
Should I still be in pain 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?
How often can you take ibuprofen 800 after wisdom teeth removal?

During this time, you may have:

a swollen mouth and cheeks – this will be worse for the first few days but will gradually improve; gently pressing a cold cloth to your face helps reduce the swelling
some mild visible bruising of your cheek – the skin may be bruised for up to 2 weeks
a stiff, sore jaw – this should wear off within 7 to 10 days
pain – this is worse if the extraction was difficult or complicated
an unpleasant taste in your mouth
tingling or numbness of your face, lips or tongue (although this is uncommon)

Report any excess bleeding, severe pain or any other unusual symptoms to your dentist or oral surgeon immediately.

Self-care advice

To reduce pain and aid your recovery, it can be helpful to:

use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (always read and follow the manufacturer's dosage instructions) – there's some evidence to suggest that ibuprofen is the best painkiller to take after having wisdom teeth removed
avoid strenuous activity and exercise for a few days
use an extra pillow to support your head at night
for 24 hours, avoid rinsing, spitting, hot drinks or anything else that may dislodge the blood clots that form in the empty tooth socket (they help the healing process)
avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for 24 hours
eat soft or liquid food for a few days and chew with your other teeth
gently rinse the extraction site with antiseptic mouthwash after 24 hours, and repeat this regularly over the next few days, particularly after eating – you can also use warm water with a teaspoon of salt as mouthwash to reduce gum soreness and inflammation

Working and driving

It's usually recommended that you take a day or two off work after having a wisdom tooth removed. You won't need a sick note from your doctor or dentist for this.

You can drive immediately after the procedure if local anaesthetic was used, but you should avoid driving for at least 24 hours if a sedative was used, or 48 hours if the procedure was carried out under general anaesthetic.

Returning to normal

After your wisdom teeth have been removed and any swelling and bruising has disappeared, your mouth and face should return to normal.

You'll usually be able to brush your teeth normally after a few days. Make sure you finish any course of antibiotics you've been given.

A check-up appointment may be arranged for about a week or so after the procedure. At this point, any remaining stitches may be removed.

Page last reviewed: 17 May 2021
Next review due: 17 May 2024

Proper post-operative care after surgery is very important to optimize the healing process and to reduce the complications of wisdom teeth removal.

Immediately Following Wisdom Tooth Extraction Surgery
The gauze pack should be kept in place with firm pressure over the wisdom tooth extraction site. Remove the pack after 30 minutes. If there is continued excessive bleeding, replace with new gauze and bite firmly again. Vigorous mouth rinsing or chewing in the areas of the wisdom tooth extraction should be avoided. This may cause increased bleeding or the blood clot to dislodge.

A liquid or soft diet is recommended for the first 24 hours. Avoid sucking through straws and eating hard or crunchy foods and spicy foods. Take the prescribed pain medication before the numbness from the local anesthesia wears off. Restrict your activities on the day of your wisdom tooth extraction surgery and return to normal activities slowly. Place ice packs on the outside of the face where the wisdom tooth extractions were done. Use ice for the first 24 hours to decrease swelling by applying it on and off 20–30 minutes at a time.

Bleeding After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Slight bleeding and redness in the saliva are common after wisdom tooth removal. If there is excess bleeding, gently wipe any old clots from the mouth and then place clean new gauze over the area and bite firmly for 30–40 minutes. Repeat every 30–40 minutes with new gauze. If excessive bleeding continues, bite on a cold-water-moistened tea bag firmly for 30–40 minutes. Slowly remove the tea bag and leave the area alone. If there is still continued excessive bleeding, call our office for further instructions. Also, avoid excessive talking, drinking from a straw, or excessive chewing if there is continued bleeding.

Swelling After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Swelling is normal after any surgical procedure, including wisdom tooth removals. The extent of swelling varies and depends on the extent of the surgery and each individual patient. Swelling around the mouth, jaws, cheeks, and below the eyes is not uncommon. The swelling will usually reach its maximum 2–3 days after the wisdom tooth extraction procedure. The swelling can be decreased by the immediate use of ice packs in the first 24 hours. Ice packs should be applied to the outside next to where the surgery was done. Keep the ice on for 20–30 minutes at a time, then remove for 20–30 minutes. Also, sitting upright and not lying flat on the first day will help to decrease the amount of swelling. You may have been prescribed other anti-inflammatory medications such as dexamethasone (Decadron). If you were prescribed these medications, follow the instructions written on the bottle.

Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Pain medications are normally required after your wisdom tooth or teeth removal. If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help…

How long should I take ibuprofen after wisdom teeth?

Often times after wisdom tooth removal we will prescribe a higher dose ibuprofen. This should be taken in consistent doses the first 3-5 days if tolerated to help keep inflammation down as well as help control discomfort.

How long do you need to take painkillers after wisdom teeth removal?

Opioids are usually required for less than 3 days. As you continue to recover, your pain should be less day by day and you will need less opioids. Get in touch with your dentist, surgeon or pharmacist if your pain does not improve.

Should I still be in pain 7 days after wisdom teeth removal?

some mild visible bruising of your cheek – the skin may be bruised for up to 2 weeks. a stiff, sore jaw – this should wear off within 7 to 10 days. pain – this is worse if the extraction was difficult or complicated. an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

How often can you take ibuprofen 800 after wisdom teeth removal?

For moderate pain, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) 400mg (2 tablets) should be taken every three to four hours on a regular schedule. By taking this pain medication regularly and keeping the blood levels constant, the medication can work better and often less prescription narcotic pain medicine is necessary.