If you have had your wisdom teeth or third molars removed, there are precautions to take afterward. Because wisdom teeth removal is considered oral surgery, complications can arise if you do not allow your mouth to properly heal. If you are an avid athlete or plan on engaging in exercise shortly after having your teeth removed, you need to take some things into consideration first.
When to Exercise
Depending on the method your dentist or oral surgeon used to remove your teeth, you may be able to exercise later in the day after removal. If he used any type of sedative including general anesthesia, you may feel tired and groggy for several hours after the procedure. Other side effects of anesthesia are lethargy and numbness. These symptoms could make exercise challenging. Waiting for at least 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal will assure that you have rested properly and your body is capable of taking on physical activity. The gum area and socket where the teeth were removed may bleed for several hours after surgery. If you find that the bleeding has not stopped or is brought on by exercise, allow yourself more time before engaging in physical activity again.
Recommended Exercise
Exercise that is extremely low-impact is recommended initially. This is because your jaw and teeth can get jarred and feel the brunt of your movement. Even if the bleeding has stopped and the pain is minimal, your mouth is still healing. When pressure is placed on your legs and feet through aerobic exercise, your entire spine and head can be affected by movement. Sitting in place and doing range of motion exercises can still help bring your heart rate up but not provide the jarring effects of intense exercise. Do lower body exercise instead of doing head and neck exercise. Suitable examples include hip and knee bends, knee rotations, side-to-side leg movements, and knee and hip bends.
Complications
After surgery, the socket that held your teeth will be empty. A blood clot or small scab will appear on the area above the socket. It is important that this scab stay in place until the gum has entirely healed. You will likely have stitches in the area where the teeth were removed. If you exercise too soon after oral surgery, complications could arise. One of the most painful is a dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot has been dislodged or broken open. This exposes the nerves and bone inside the gums, leading to extreme pain. If you bite down to hard or jaw is affected by a sudden movement, you could dislodge the dry socket. Other complications include swelling, bleeding and pain.
Precautions
It is important to take certain precautions to avoid pain or infection in your gums. For the first few days, avoid strenuous exercise, such as running, hiking and cycling. Ask your dentist or oral surgeon about the healing process and when you can start to resume physical activity. If you begin to run a fever or have bleeding that doesn't stop once pressure is applied, seek medical care.
