When you get up from the treatment chair at the dental office and have completed the wisdom teeth removal surgery, the effects of anesthetic drugs have not completely subsided, and the body is gradually tired and uncomfortable, at this time, “Can I sleep now?” This question may spring to mind immediately. As a dentist for many years, I know how common and important this problem is. Next, I will explain in detail whether you can sleep after wisdom tooth surgery from many aspects, and how to scientifically arrange sleep after surgery to help you successfully through the postoperative recovery period.
First. Physical state and sleep feasibility after wisdom teeth surgery
Before we discuss whether we can sleep, let’s first understand the specific state of the body after wisdom tooth surgery. Wisdom tooth removal is a common small operation in oral and maxillofacial surgery, but even so, it can cause some trauma to the body. During the procedure, gum tissue is cut, wisdom teeth are removed, and blood clots form at the wound, an important sign that the body has started to repair itself.
Just after the surgery, the anesthetic effect has not completely worn off, and the patient is usually in a state of consciousness but local numbness in the mouth. The numbness can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the type and dosage of anesthetic used. During anesthetic effects, many patients feel lethargic, which is a normal phenomenon. From a physiological point of view, sleep itself is an important process for the body to repair itself and restore energy, so in theory, it is possible to sleep after wisdom tooth surgery. Sleep can help the body better focus energy on wound healing and relieve fatigue after surgery.
However, just because you can sleep doesn’t mean you can fall asleep at will. During post-operative sleep, there are some potential risks and precautions that need our special attention.
Second, the potential risk of sleep after wisdom teeth surgery
(1) Bleeding risk
One of the most common risks after wisdom tooth surgery is bleeding. Blood clots that form at the site of a surgical wound are essential to stop bleeding and heal the wound. Improper posture during sleep, such as over-bowing and pressing on the surgical side of the face while lying on the side, can cause pressure changes in the mouth and cause the blood clot to fall off. Once the blood clot breaks off, the wound that has stopped bleeding may bleed again, and in severe cases, it may even need to be returned to the hospital for treatment.
In addition, during sleep, the body is in a relaxed state, and the muscles and tissues in the mouth will become relaxed. If the residual blood in the mouth is not spit out in time, but is swallowed, it may stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting and other uncomfortable symptoms. The intense pressure generated during vomiting further increases the risk of bleeding from the wound.
(2) Risk of aspiration
There may be a small amount of bleeding, saliva and blood clots in the mouth after surgery. During sleep, the swallowing reflex and cough reflex are relatively weakened. If these mixed substances are not excreted in time, they may enter the respiratory tract and cause aspiration. Once aspiration occurs, it may cause coughing and respiratory discomfort, and may lead to respiratory obstruction and threaten life safety. Especially for some patients with heart and lung dysfunction, the risk of aspiration will be higher.
(3) Compression of the wound affects healing
Improper sleeping posture may also directly compress the surgical wound, affecting local blood circulation and tissue repair. For example, lying face down on the side of the surgery for a long period of time can put constant pressure on the wound, block the supply of blood and nutrients, slow healing, and may even increase the chance of infection.
Third, scientific sleep methods and precautions after wisdom teeth surgery
(1) Appropriate sleeping posture
Semi-decumbent position: Within 6 hours after surgery, it is recommended to use semi-decumbent sleep as much as possible. You can raise the head of the bed 30-45 degrees, or use multiple pillows to prop your head up. This position uses gravity to reduce blood pooling in the mouth, reducing the risk of bleeding and aspiration. At the same time, the semi-decumbent position can also help reduce facial swelling, because gravity can force the fluid between the tissues to drain downward.
Supine position: If you are not used to semi-supine position, supine position is also a good choice. When lying on your back, pay attention to avoid leaning your head back too much, so as not to let the secretions in the mouth flow backward into the respiratory tract. You can place a thin pillow under your head to keep it slightly elevated.
Avoid lying on your side: In particular, avoid lying on your side face down on the surgical side, at least for 24 hours after surgery. If you really need to lie on your side, you should also choose the non-surgical side, and you can pad a thin cushion on the back to prevent you from unconsciously turning over and pressing the surgical wound during sleep.
(2) Prepare before going to bed
Clean your mouth: Before you go to bed, you can gently fill the mouth cavity with mouthwash prescribed by your doctor to remove food debris and blood smells from your mouth. But be careful not to gargle too hard, so as not to cause the blood clot to fall off. When gargling, the mouthwash in the mouth, stir the cheek, so that the mouthwash fully contact all parts of the mouth, and then gently spit out.
Observe the wound: Before going to bed, carefully observe the surgical wound to see if there is obvious bleeding. If there is only a small amount of light red blood in the mouth, it is a normal phenomenon, do not worry too much. However, if a large amount of blood is found gushing out or a large blood clot forms in the mouth, a doctor should be contacted immediately for treatment.
Prepare emergency supplies: Prepare clean gauze, paper towels and other items at the bedside, so that if there is slight bleeding during sleep, you can wipe it in time. At the same time, prepare a cup of warm water, if you feel the taste of blood in the mouth is heavy, you can drink a small sip, but do not drink water frequently.
(3) Precautions during sleep
Keep your airways open: During sleep, try to keep your airways open. Avoid covering your mouth and nose with a quilt to prevent breathing problems. If you have the habit of snoring, or feel breathing is not smooth during sleep, you should immediately adjust the posture, if necessary, you can sit up and rest for a while, and then continue to fall asleep after breathing is stable.
Avoid frequent rolling: Although it is difficult to completely avoid rolling over during sleep, try to minimize the number of rolls. Frequent rolling over not only easily changes the sleeping position, increases the risk of pressing the wound, but also may cause blood clots in the mouth to shift. If you feel uncomfortable and need to turn over, the movement should be as slow and gentle as possible.
Keep warm: The body’s resistance is relatively weak after surgery, and it is easy to be stimulated by cold. Pay attention to warmth during sleep, according to the indoor temperature appropriate to increase or decrease clothing and bedding, but be careful not to let the quilt pressure to the surgical site.
Four, different stages of sleep recommendations
(1) The day after the operation
The day after surgery is the most unstable period of the wound, and the risk of bleeding and infection is relatively high. At this stage, rest should be strictly in accordance with the above sleeping positions and precautions. If you wake up during sleep, do not rush to get up, you can observe the wound first, confirm that there is no abnormal then slowly get up. If you find it difficult to sleep because of the pain, you can take an appropriate amount of pain medication according to the doctor’s advice, but do not increase the amount of medication yourself.
(2) 1-3 days after surgery
One to three days after surgery, the blood clot at the wound is gradually institutionalized and new tissue begins to form. At this time, although the risk of bleeding is reduced, it is still necessary to pay attention to sleeping posture. You can gradually transition from the semi-decumbent position to the supine position, but still avoid compression of the wound in the lateral position. These days there may be increased facial swelling, sleep can be properly padded head, help reduce swelling. At the same time, keep your mouth clean and use mouthwash regularly as recommended by your doctor.
(3) 3 days after the operation
3 days after the surgery, if the wound healing is good, there is no obvious pain, bleeding and other symptoms, you can appropriately relax the requirements of sleep posture, but still try to avoid long-term pressure on the surgical side of the face. With the gradual healing of the wound, you can return to normal sleeping habits, but you should still pay attention to the feeling of the wound when sleeping, if there is abnormal pain, swelling, etc., you should seek medical attention in time.
5. Handling of special cases
(1) Pain affects sleep
If the postoperative pain is more severe, seriously affect the quality of sleep, do not forbear. The doctor should be contacted promptly to inform the extent and duration of the pain. The doctor will adjust the pain relief plan according to the specific situation, and may change the pain medication or increase the dose of medication. At the same time, you can also try some auxiliary pain relief methods, such as applying cold compresses to the cheek area of the surgery (within 24 hours after surgery), 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every 1 to 2 hours, cold compresses can narrow blood vessels, reduce pain and swelling.
(2) Frequent bleeding affects sleep
Don’t be alarmed if you experience frequent bleeding during sleep. You can use a clean gauze or cotton ball to clamp down on the bleeding, and the bleeding will gradually stop after 15-30 minutes of pressure. If the bleeding does not stop after pressure hemostasis, or the bleeding is becoming more and more serious, you should go to the hospital immediately, and the doctor will perform hemostasis treatment according to the specific situation, such as re-stitching the wound and using hemostatic drugs.
(3) Allergic reactions affect sleep
Some patients may experience allergic reactions after taking postoperative medications, such as rashes, itching, difficulty breathing, etc., which can seriously interfere with sleep. In the event of an allergic reaction, stop taking the suspected drug immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible. The doctor will treat the allergy according to the severity of the allergy, such as the use of anti-allergy drugs, oxygen, etc.
Conclusion
It is possible to sleep after wisdom tooth surgery, but we need to take a scientific and reasonable approach and pay attention to various potential risks and matters. Through proper sleeping posture, adequate bedtime preparation and careful attention during sleep, we can help us to ensure that the wound heals smoothly and get a good rest at the same time. If you encounter any uncertain problems during sleep after surgery, be sure to communicate with the attending doctor in time to ensure a smooth recovery process after surgery. Hope this article can provide you with useful reference, I wish you a speedy recovery!
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