How long will it take the swelling in my cheeks to go down after getting my wisdom teeth removed?

Question

It is driving me nuts. My face is huge. I just got them taken out yesterday. But school starts soon and I was just wondering if it will take a couples days or a week or whatever.

Thanks.

Answer 1

You can still use ice packs ( first 24-48 hrs) after surgery. Usually days 3 to 4 will be your worst days for swelling. After that you should see a change. Keep your head elevated and take Ibuprofen over the counter 3 which will be 600mg every 4 to 6 hrs. It is an anti imflamatory and will help with the swelling. Stick with soft mushy foods that don't require chewing. Mashed potatoes, pudding, soup, apple sauce, oatmeal and my favorite mac and cheese. When I had mine out my mom cooked the noodles where they were very mushy. Just be patient and take it easy for a few days. Don't try to over do it.  

Answer 2

1 week for it to look better, 2 weeks for it to go down completely.

Answer 3

When you are past the 24 hour point from the surgery, you can swap out the ice packs for moist,mild heat.  That will bring in extra blood supply to carry away the extra liquid giving you the swollen chipmunk look you love so well(not).  You can also drink warm liquids- like tea, and let some pool in your cheek pockets until it cools.  That warms things from the inside, and will also help with the inflammation in the gums and sore jaws.  Stay sitting upright as well, as much as you can- so gravity works for you as well.   The swelling usually is down pretty well within 3-4 days, although depending on how radical the removal effort was, it can be a week or more to be gone completely.  Moist heat is your best friend right now, though.