Day five represents a significant landmark in recovery following wisdom teeth removal, marking the transition from acute post-surgical discomfort to a more manageable healing phase. The primary focus shifts from managing severe initial symptoms to safely resuming daily functions and preventing complications. Understanding the specific physical changes, dietary advancements, and warning signs associated with Day 5 can provide reassurance and guide proper self-care.
Managing Expected Physical Symptoms
The intense throbbing pain and discomfort experienced immediately after surgery should be substantially reduced by Day 5. Lingering pain is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, rather than prescription medication. Pain that worsens instead of improves after the third or fourth day is a deviation from the expected recovery and should be noted.
Facial swelling, which typically peaks around 48 to 72 hours post-operation, should be visibly decreasing at this stage. While some residual puffiness may remain, particularly around the jawline, the hard, tense swelling should have softened considerably. Any swelling that begins to increase after Day 5, or is accompanied by warmth and redness, is not a normal part of the healing process.
Jaw stiffness, known as trismus, is a common result of inflammation and muscle soreness from keeping the mouth open during the procedure. This stiffness should be easing, though a mild limitation in fully opening the mouth may persist. Gentle, slow jaw stretching exercises, initiated only if comfortable and without disturbing the surgical sites, can help encourage normal muscle flexibility.
Advancing Diet and Oral Care
Day 5 is the appropriate time to begin transitioning the diet beyond a purely liquid or soft food intake. Patients can safely introduce semi-soft, chewable foods that require minimal effort and are easy to swallow. Safe options include soft pasta, mashed vegetables, scrambled eggs, and tender fish or well-cooked, shredded meats.
It remains important to continue avoiding foods that are crunchy, sticky, or possess sharp edges, such as chips, nuts, or seeds, as these can irritate the wound or become lodged in the socket. The suction created by using a straw or the pressure from spitting can dislodge the protective blood clot, so these activities must still be avoided. Consuming extremely hot or spicy foods should also be postponed, as they can cause irritation and increase blood flow to the extraction sites.
Oral hygiene should be maintained with gentle but consistent care, focusing on keeping the mouth clean without damaging the healing tissue. Brushing the teeth away from the surgical areas is safe and necessary to prevent plaque buildup. The extraction sites should be cleaned primarily through gentle rinsing with warm salt water or a prescribed antiseptic rinse, allowing the liquid to flow over the area and drain out without forceful spitting.
Recognizing Abnormal Recovery Signs
The most common complication to monitor for on Day 5 is alveolar osteitis, commonly referred to as dry socket. This occurs when the protective blood clot is lost, exposing the underlying bone and nerves. Persistent, severe, throbbing pain that radiates from the socket up to the ear, eye, or temple, and does not respond to standard pain medication, is a strong indicator. Visually, the socket may appear empty, sometimes revealing white bone instead of a dark blood clot.
Signs of localized infection may become more apparent around Day 5 and require immediate attention from the oral surgeon. Key indicators of infection include pain that begins to worsen after initially improving, or swelling that increases in size after Day 3. The presence of pus, which appears as thick yellow, green, or white discharge from the socket, is a definitive sign that bacteria have invaded the area.
Systemic symptoms such as a fever above 100.4°F (38°C), accompanied by chills or general malaise, suggest the infection is spreading. A persistent foul taste or odor not resolved by rinsing often signals the presence of infection or a dry socket. Heavy or continuous bleeding that persists beyond a light oozing, or persistent numbness in the tongue, lip, or chin (paresthesia), also warrants an immediate consultation.