Having wisdom teeth extracted was originally thought to be just a minor surgery, but after the operation, people feel extremely exhausted, which has left many people confused. Although the operation was not long and there was no persistent severe pain after the anesthetic effect wore off, I felt as if all my strength had been drained away, and I couldn’t even muster the energy for daily activities. In fact, the fatigue after having wisdom teeth extracted is not accidental but a series of complex reactions of the body when dealing with trauma. Next, I will analyze the reasons behind it in detail for you from multiple perspectives.
Physical Trauma and Repair Mechanisms
Direct injury caused by surgery
Although wisdom tooth extraction is a common operation in oral and maxillofacial surgery, it is essentially an invasive procedure. During the process of extracting wisdom teeth, dentists need to cut open the gums, separate the surrounding tissues, and may even grind off part of the alveolar bone in order to completely remove the wisdom teeth. These operations will inevitably cause problems in the oral cavity. These operations will inevitably cause damage to the soft and hard tissues in the oral cavity, resulting in wounds. Just like injuries in other parts of the body, wounds in the mouth can trigger the body’s self-repair mechanism, and this process requires a large amount of energy.
Imagine that our body is like a huge factory. When trauma occurs, every department in the factory has to be busy. The immune system will quickly mobilize “soldiers” such as white blood cells to the wound to fight against possible invading bacteria and prevent infection. The coagulation system initiates the coagulation process, causing a blood clot to form at the wound site, which plays a role in stopping bleeding and protecting the wound surface. Fibroblasts and other cells will start to proliferate and gradually repair the damaged tissues. This series of complex physiological activities all require energy support from the body, just as the operation of a factory consumes electricity, which leads us to feel tired.
The Impact of inflammatory response
After wisdom teeth are extracted, inflammatory reactions will inevitably occur at the wound site. This is a normal defense mechanism of the body against trauma. During the inflammatory process, the body releases various inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and interleukins. Although these inflammatory mediators help fight infections and promote recovery, they can also have some negative effects on the body.
For instance, prostaglandins can make us more sensitive to pain and also cause an increase in body temperature, which is what we often call postoperative low fever. In order to cope with the increase in body temperature, the body needs to consume more energy to regulate it. Mediators such as interleukins act on the central nervous system and affect the balance of neurotransmitters, including the level of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter closely related to mood and sleep. When the level of serotonin changes, we are prone to symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness and low mood.
The Effects of Anesthesia and Drugs
Residual Effects of Anesthetic drugs
At present, the commonly used anesthesia method for wisdom tooth extraction is local anesthesia. By injecting anesthetic drugs into the nerve area around the wisdom tooth, the nerve conduction is temporarily blocked, causing the surgical area to lose the sense of pain. Although the action time of local anesthetic drugs is relatively short, there will still be a small amount of anesthetic drugs remaining in the body for a period of time after the operation.
These residual anesthetic drugs can have a certain inhibitory effect on the nervous system and affect the transmission of neural signals. It’s like applying a “brake” to the nervous system, causing the body’s reaction speed to slow down and the activities of various organs to relatively decrease, thus making people feel drowsy and exhausted. Moreover, different anesthetic drugs have different metabolic rates in the body. Some drugs may take a longer time to be completely metabolized and excreted from the body, and during this period, fatigue will also persist.
Side effects of postoperative medication
To prevent infection and relieve pain, doctors usually prescribe some medications to patients after wisdom tooth extraction, such as antibiotics and painkillers. Although these drugs play an important role in postoperative recovery, they may also bring some side effects, causing the body to feel tired.
While antibiotics kill harmful bacteria, they also affect the normal flora in the intestinal tract and disrupt the balance of the intestinal microecology. The intestinal microbiota is closely related to the body’s nutrient absorption, immune regulation and other functions. An imbalance in the intestinal microecology will affect the body’s absorption efficiency of nutrients, thereby leading to insufficient energy supply and making people feel tired.
Painkillers, especially some opioid painkillers, although they have a remarkable pain-relieving effect, act on the central nervous system, inhibit the activities of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and reduce the body’s metabolic rate, thereby causing symptoms such as drowsiness and fatigue. Even commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, affecting appetite and digestive function, and indirectly causing the body to lack sufficient energy and feel tired.
Changes in Diet and Nutrient Intake
Difficulty in eating and nutritional deficiency
The pain and discomfort in swallowing after wisdom tooth extraction can make it difficult for us to eat for a period of time after the operation. Many people are reluctant to chew food normally and can only choose to eat some liquid or soft foods, such as porridge and noodles. Although these foods are easy to digest, their nutrition is relatively monotonous and cannot meet the body’s demand for various nutrients during the postoperative recovery stage.
The body’s repair of wounds requires proteins to synthesize new tissues and vitamins and minerals to participate in various physiological metabolic processes. If these key nutrients are lacking in the diet, the body cannot carry out repair work efficiently and it will also affect energy production. For example, a lack of protein can cause the body to be unable to replenish the raw materials needed for repair in time, affecting the speed of wound healing. A lack of iron can affect the synthesis of hemoglobin, leading to insufficient oxygen transportation. As a result, various organs in the body do not receive adequate oxygen supply, causing symptoms such as weakness and fatigue.
Insufficient water intake
Postoperative wound pain and difficulty in swallowing not only affect the intake of solid food but may also lead to insufficient water intake. Water is the foundation for various physiological activities in the body. It participates in important processes such as the transportation of nutrients, the excretion of metabolic wastes, and the regulation of body temperature. When the body is short of water, the blood becomes thick and viscous, affecting blood circulation. As a result, oxygen and nutrients cannot be delivered to various organs and tissues in a timely manner, and the body’s metabolic wastes cannot be effectively excreted. In this way, various functions of the body will be affected, and it is easy to feel tired.
In addition, dehydration can also affect the normal function of the kidneys, causing them to consume more energy to maintain the production and excretion of urine, further increasing the burden on the body and making people feel even more tired.
The Influence of Psychological Factors
Tension and anxiety regarding the surgery
Even though wisdom tooth extraction is a common minor surgery, many people still feel nervous and anxious before the operation. This negative emotion can put the body in a state of stress, stimulating the sympathetic nerve to become excited and secreting stress hormones such as adrenaline. These hormones can accelerate the heart rate, raise blood pressure and consume a large amount of energy at the same time.
Moreover, long-term tension and anxiety can affect sleep quality, leading to problems such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent dreams and easy awakening. Sleep is an important process for the body’s recovery and repair. During sleep, the body engages in activities such as cell repair, hormone regulation, and energy storage. If one doesn’t get enough sleep or it’s of poor quality, the body won’t be able to rest and recover adequately, and one will naturally feel exhausted the next day.
Concerns about recovery after the operation
After having wisdom teeth extracted, patients often pay extra attention to the recovery of the wound, worrying about complications such as infection and bleeding. This continuous worry can bring great psychological pressure and also affect the normal function of the nervous system. When psychological stress is too great, the brain secretes some neurotransmitters, such as cortisol, etc. These substances can interfere with the body’s normal metabolism and endocrine system, leading to a decline in the body’s immunity. At the same time, it can also make people feel tired and weak, and lose enthusiasm for life and work.
Changes in Sleep and Rest Patterns
Postoperative pain affects sleep
The wound pain after wisdom tooth extraction is one of the main factors affecting sleep. Especially at night, the body’s sense of pain becomes relatively more sensitive. The pain from a wound may make it difficult for people to fall asleep or cause them to wake up frequently during sleep. If the sleep process is interrupted, one cannot enter the deep sleep stage, which is a crucial period for the body to restore energy and repair tissues.
Lack of deep sleep means that various organs and systems in the body do not get sufficient rest and adjustment, which can lead to listlessness and exhaustion during the day. In addition, pain can also trigger the body’s stress response, further affecting sleep quality and creating a vicious cycle.
Restrictions on sleeping positions
To avoid compressing the wound and reduce the risk of bleeding, after wisdom tooth extraction, doctors usually advise patients to adopt a specific sleeping position, such as avoiding the affected side as much as possible. This poses a challenge for many people who are accustomed to a fixed sleeping position. An unfamiliar sleeping position can make people feel uncomfortable and it is difficult for them to relax their bodies and fall asleep. Insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality will naturally aggravate the fatigue after the operation.
Moreover, changes in sleeping position may affect the smoothness of breathing, causing the body to not receive sufficient oxygen supply during sleep. This further hinders the body’s recovery and energy reserves, making people more prone to fatigue during the day.
How to Relieve Fatigue after Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Have a balanced diet to supplement nutrition
After the operation, one should try to choose nutritious and easily digestible foods. In addition to porridge and noodles, you can appropriately increase the intake of some protein-rich foods, such as egg custard, tofu, fish, etc. These foods are rich in high-quality protein and can help the body repair wounds. At the same time, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins and minerals and promote the body’s metabolism.
It is important to maintain adequate water intake. You can choose to drink warm boiled water, freshly squeezed fruit juice, etc. If it is really difficult to eat normally, you can consider using nutritional supplements such as protein powder and vitamin tablets, but it is best to use them under the guidance of a doctor.
Correct medication use and observation
Take the medicine strictly as directed by the doctor. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medicine by yourself. If the side effects of the medicine are too obvious, such as severe drowsiness and dizziness, you should inform the doctor in time. The doctor will adjust the medication plan according to the situation. At the same time, closely monitor the recovery of the wound. If any abnormal symptoms such as continuous bleeding, severe pain, or fever occur, seek medical attention immediately.
Adjust your mindset and relax
Tension and anxiety can be relieved by listening to music, watching movies, chatting with friends and other ways. You can also learn some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, to help your body and mind relax. Maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude and believing that the wound will gradually recover is also of great help in reducing fatigue.
Ensure adequate sleep and rest
Create a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment and try to ensure sufficient sleep time. If the pain affects sleep, painkillers can be taken appropriately under the guidance of a doctor. When adjusting your sleeping position, try to find one that neither presses on the wound nor fails to ensure the quality of your sleep. You can also take some breaks during the day, such as taking a short nap, but don’t sleep too much to avoid affecting your sleep at night.
Moderate activities promote recovery
If your physical condition permits, you can engage in some moderate activities after the operation, such as taking a walk. Moderate exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance the body’s metabolism and help the body restore energy. However, it is important to avoid strenuous exercise to prevent bleeding from the wound or aggravating the pain.
Conclusion
Feeling tired after having wisdom teeth extracted is the result of the combined effect of multiple factors. After understanding these reasons, we can relieve fatigue and promote physical recovery by taking corresponding measures. If postoperative fatigue persists for a long time or is accompanied by other severe discomfort symptoms, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly and consult a professional doctor for assistance.
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