Can I Work the Day After I Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

We would not recommend returning to work the day after you get your wisdom teeth removed. We generally recommend taking at least 1 to 2 days off from work or school. This initial phase of healing is critical for the rest of your recovery. So we recommend taking it easy and resting so your body can work to heal you. 

If you sit behind a computer and don’t talk to people…

Then that type of job holds a pretty minimum risk of causing any complications. You’re not likely to injure yourself or strain your mouth while talking. You’re most likely a knowledge worker. However, you will most likely be on some kind of pain medication immediately after your procedure. Everyone reacts differently to medication. So you might not be in the right mental space to do your job to the best of your abilities. 

If you don’t physically exert yourself but still talk a lot…

Then your speaking will be partially impaired from the wisdom teeth removal. You don’t want to strain yourself trying to talk. So if you’re a project manager or salesperson, you should probably wait 3-7 days for the best results. 

If you have a job where you physically exert yourself…

Then you should certainly stay home and rest. Most people feel ready to return to light activities after a week. And most people are nearly fully healed by 2 weeks. So a handyman doing some light repair work might feel like they can return to work after a week or so. But a construction worker should definitely wait the full 2 weeks. 

Key Takeaway: the best thing you can do for yourself after an intense procedure is rest. 

The best thing you can do for yourself is to rest. If you overexert yourself while you’re recovering you can interrupt your healing. You can hurt yourself or set your recovery time back. So it will take even longer to return to your normal life. 

We understand that you have to work to put food on the table. But let your boss know beforehand that you will be undergoing wisdom teeth removal. Take time off if you have to. 

If you want to return to your life as soon as possible after wisdom teeth removal, follow our instructions:

• Follow the pain medication regimen we prescribed to you.
• Control the bleeding. We provide gauze pads to place over the surgical sites. Apply a gentle but firm pressure. Change gauze as needed to keep the bleeding down. 
• Apply ice packs to the face for the first 1-2 days. This will help keep the swelling down. You can of course keep applying ice packs after the first 2 days if it helps you.
• Keep your head elevated while resting and sleeping.
• Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth for the first 1-2 days. But after the initial 24 hours, you can gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water and gently brush your teeth. You can return to normal brushing after 3-5 days. Just be careful about the sockets. 
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, but stay away from carbonated beverages. And don’t use straws at all. 
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and really any recreational drug use. We have more information about that here. 
• For the first few days eat very soft or liquid foods. Really you want to avoid chewing. So drink broths, blended soups, yogurt, applesauce, pudding, mashed potatoes, and some smoothies 

And don’t forget to attend your post-operation appointments!

Follow-up visits are how we monitor your healing. So take it easy, listen to your medical provider, and don’t return to work for a few days.