Drugs

Painkillers can be prescribed by the treating physician to support recovery and to relieve pain (wound pain). These are usually paracetamol or ibuprofen. Medications containing acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) are less suitable, as they inhibit blood clotting.

If the procedure was particularly complicated or if there was an infection before, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. This helps to prevent infection. In any case, it is important that this is taken for as long as the doctor has prescribed it, otherwise there is a risk of the wound becoming inflamed after all.

Ibuprofen® is considered the painkiller of choice for inflamed wisdom teeth, as it also has an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to its pain-relieving component. The maximum daily dose is 2400mg per day. However, since Ibuprofen® attacks the stomach lining, they are not suitable for patients with stomach complaints or must be taken with stomach protectors such as Pantozol®.

If the pain remains perceptible despite Ibuprofen®, Ibuprofen® can be combined with Novalgin® drops. For an appropriate dosage, consultation with the treating dentist is necessary. The dentist will then probably want to have another look at the wound in order to take the appropriate measures.

Antibiotics should only be prescribed for wisdom teeth removal if really necessary. Necessary in this case means if the tooth was already inflamed before the operation or if there is a heart disease. In this case, taking antibiotics before dental surgery is a mandatory measure to avoid endocaditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart).

This is the case, for example, with artificial heart valves, congenital heart defects or previous heart transplants. Otherwise, it is not absolutely necessary to take antibiotics, provided that all precautions are taken after the operation. Nevertheless, it can happen that the operation wound becomes inflamed.

If the area reddens and there is a burning sensation when eating or swelling of the cheek, you should always consult a dentist. The dentist can then decide whether it is advisable to take the medicine.However, one should not prescribe any tablets oneself, the risks are too high, which could occur by not taking antibiotics according to regulations. If the wound becomes inflamed after a wisdom tooth operation, you can first use home remedies before you have the opportunity to see your dentist.

Targeted cooling is helpful here, for example: with cooling packs or cooling pads, which are wrapped in a towel so as not to undercool the skin, one can temporarily hold on to the corresponding area from the outside. It is intended to relieve the pain of inflammation, minimize swelling and stop the tendency to spread. This is due to the fact that bacteria only multiply in a warm environment, which is why warmth after surgical removal of the wisdom teeth would favour the signs of inflammation.

It is important to cool only about 5 to 10 minutes at a time and not to hold the cooling pack permanently against the affected area, as otherwise the body will be signalled as hypothermia. The body reacts to this with increased blood pressure and heat, which in turn promotes the inflammation. Furthermore, after the operation the extract of the clove can calm the gums.

It is important not to chew the clove directly on the spot, otherwise there would be a risk of the clove getting into the wound. Therefore 2 to 3 teeth can be chewed away on the spice, which should counteract the inflammation. Flushing with teas or spices is not recommended here, as these would flush out the “blood clot” that has formed and is now closing the tooth socket.

This would leave the tooth socket empty, which promotes infections and harms the wound closure, since the coagulated blood cells normally convert into connective tissue cells. It is therefore essential that the blood clot remains after the tooth has been removed. If the blood is flushed out, the clinical picture of alveolitis sicca (=”the empty tooth socket”) develops, in which the patient often suffers quickly from severe pain and should consult the dentist immediately. Furthermore, the affected person should initially fall back on soft food and leave the area out when brushing his teeth.