Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing to go to sleep
• Part 2 of 2: Going to bed
• Tips
• Warnings

In general, having your wisdom teeth removed is not a pleasant procedure and the recovery period after the operation is often even less enjoyable. With bleeding and sore gums, it is not only more difficult to eat and drink, but falling asleep can also be difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make falling asleep after having your wisdom teeth removed simple and safe, with minimal discomfort.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Preparing to go to sleep

1. Remove any gauze in your mouth. Leaving gauze in your mouth before going to sleep can choke you. Before going to sleep, make sure you have carefully removed any gauze pads that have not already been removed by the dentist.
   • As long as at least half an hour has passed since the removal of your wisdom teeth, it is safe to remove the gauze from your mouth.
2. Take painkillers as directed by your dentist. You will likely be in a lot of pain after your surgery, especially on the first day. Painkillers are essential for relieving the pain long enough for you to fall asleep.
   • Follow all dosing instructions when taking pain relievers.
   • Take your painkillers before the anesthetic wears off (after about eight hours). This makes it easier for you to minimize any discomfort caused by your surgery.
   • Painkillers can also help you get more restful sleep.
3. Drink cool liquids if it isn't too uncomfortable for you. It is important to keep your mouth moist and prevent additional bleeding by drinking cool water. However, do not eat or drink anything that causes discomfort in your mouth - rather wait until the discomfort has subsided and the drinking is tolerable again.
   • Avoid drinking through a straw for at least a week after your surgery.
   • Don't drink hot liquids or eat hot foods during your recovery. Only eat or drink soft, cool foods and liquids that you can tolerate.
4. Place an ice pack on your face to reduce swelling in your gums. If you hold an ice pack against your cheek, the pain in your gums will fade and it will be easier for you to fall asleep. Hold ice to your cheek near the surgery site up to half an hour before going to bed.
   • Make sure to wrap the ice pack in a cloth before applying it to your face.
   • If you plan to go to sleep for half an hour or less, you can sleep with your ice pack on your cheek. However, it is preferable not to sleep with an ice pack for a longer period, because then your cheek will feel uncomfortably cold.
   • Never apply heat to the area after such an operation.
5. Avoid brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, or touching the wound. This can loosen the blood clot that has formed in your wound and cause the wound to bleed again. The bleeding and pain make it harder for you to fall asleep.
   • If your mouth starts to bleed and you reapply gauze to the wound, make sure you don't go to bed with this gauze still in your mouth. Wait for the bleeding to stop (at least 30 minutes) before removing the gauze and going to sleep.

Part 2 of 2: Going to bed

1. Keep your head up to minimize the swelling. Use pillows to keep your upper body at a 45-degree angle and your head up. This will reduce the swelling in your wounds and make them throbbing, making it significantly easier for you to go to sleep.
   • While this may not be your natural sleep state, resting with your head upright is by far the best way to naturally reduce pain in your mouth while sleeping.
   • If necessary, buy a wedge pillow to make sleeping in this position easier.
2. Avoid sleeping on a smooth surface such as leather. Sleeping upright makes it slightly easier for your body to fall down while you sleep. Avoid sleeping on leather couches or other smooth surfaces to get a restful sleep and avoid hurting yourself.
   • This is less bad if you sleep in a normal bed with your head propped up by pillows.
3. Keep your room cool and dark to make it an ideal sleeping environment. Turn off all the lights in your room, hang heavy curtains on the windows and lower the temperature in your room to optimize the conditions in your room for your sleep.
   • Keep your bedroom between 16-19 degrees Celsius to help your body lower its own temperature when it is ready to go to sleep.
   • If you keep your cell phone next to your bed, turn it over so that the screen faces down when you sleep. This will prevent the device from giving off unwanted light in your bedroom when new notifications appear on the screen.
4. Use aromatherapy to make it easier to fall asleep. Some studies have shown that certain scents can relieve stress and promote restful sleep. Consider using candles, oils, or sprays to make your room more fragrant and suitable for sleeping.
   • The best scents for creating a better sleeping environment are lavender and vanilla.
   • You can also dip a cotton ball in a scented oil and leave it by your pillow to make your sleeping environment more aromatic in a quick and easy way.
   • Be careful when lighting candles for an optimal sleeping environment. Don't fall asleep with a candle that is still burning.
5. Play calming music to help you relax. It will be extremely difficult to keep your mind off the pain in your gums long enough to fall asleep. Play slow, calming music to give your mind something else to focus on.
   • Slow music is generally the best music to fall asleep to. Play music at a rhythm between 60 and 80 beats per minute for best results.
   • Some good music genres to fall asleep to are jazz, classical and folk music.

Tips

• No two mouths are 100% alike. Always follow the specific aftercare instructions your dentist / surgeon gives you after surgery.

Warnings

• Avoid smoking, sucking on straws, or any other activity that requires sucking with your mouth. This can cause discomfort or pain and will slow down the process of your recovery. It can also lead to a painful condition known as "dry socket," which will likely increase your recovery time.