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Wisdom Teeth & Extraction

Wisdom Teeth Recovery Tracker

Recovering from wisdom teeth removal or a tooth extraction? Enter your surgery date to see what's normal today, what isn't, your care checklist and what comes next. Log pain and swelling each day to spot problems early.

Example shown. Enter your surgery date and time.
Type of extraction

Simple: the tooth came out whole without cutting the gum. Surgical: the gum was cut or the tooth was split, as with most wisdom teeth.

Which teeth? (optional) None picked
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Tap the teeth that were removed. Wisdom teeth are 1, 16, 17 and 32.

Stitches
Anesthesia
Do you smoke or vape?

Saving keeps your dates and check-ins on this device only, in My Smile.

Calendar reminders

Includes: start salt-water rinses (24 hours after), the dry socket watch window, a day-10 stitch check, and your follow-up if you add one. Works with Apple, Google and Outlook calendars.

Today is

Surgical

Day 2

Read about this stage

What's normal now

    Call your dentist if

      Today's care checklist

        Under the gum (approximate)

        Based on studies of healing sockets. Timing varies a lot between people.

        Milestones

          Daily check-in

          Log pain and swelling once a day. If pain starts getting worse on days 2–5 instead of better, the tracker will tell you. Check-ins are saved on this device.

          0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain you can imagine.

          Swelling

          Wisdom teeth recovery timeline at a glance

          Most people feel much better within a week. The gum closes over the socket in about 3–4 weeks, and the bone underneath keeps filling in for months. Surgical removal, which covers most wisdom teeth, takes longer than a simple extraction.

          StageSimple extractionSurgical or impacted wisdom teeth
          Day 0Numb for 2–3 hours, some oozingSame, and swelling starts
          Days 1–2Sore for a day or twoSwelling builds
          Days 3–4Pain easingSwelling peaks around day 2–3, then starts to go down
          Days 5–7Most side effects goneSwelling fading; most people back to routine by day 5
          Week 2Feels normalSoreness and bruising gone by about 2 weeks
          Weeks 3–4Gum healing, about a monthGum grows over the socket
          Months 1–6Bone fills in (a molar up to 4 months)Bone fills in (up to 6 months)

          Day 0: the day of your extraction

          A blood clot forms in the socket. Your job today is to protect it. Numbness wears off in about 2–3 hours (check how long numbness lasts for your shot), so take your pain relief before then, as your dentist advised. Some oozing is normal, especially the first night. If it bleeds, press a damp gauze pad on the socket for 10–20 minutes. Don't rinse, spit or use a straw. Eat lukewarm, soft food once you can feel your mouth, and rest with your head raised.

          Days 1 and 2 after tooth extraction

          After a simple extraction, soreness usually lasts a day or two. After surgical removal, swelling keeps building and usually peaks around day 2–3. Pain and swelling are usually worst for the first three days, and your jaw may be stiff. From 24 hours on, start gentle warm salt-water rinses. Cold packs help most in the first 12–24 hours.

          Day 3 and 4 after wisdom teeth removal: the watch window

          Day 3 is often the sorest day. After that, pain should ease and swelling should start to go down. This is also when dry socket usually shows up: it typically starts 2–3 days after the extraction, and most cases appear by day 5.

          The key sign is pain that gets worse instead of better, often spreading to your ear, with a bad taste or a socket that looks empty. That pattern is consistent with dry socket. Call your dentist within 24 hours, or use the Dry Socket Checker. Swelling that gets worse after day 3 is also a reason to call.

          Days 5 to 7 after tooth extraction

          Most people are back to their routine by about day 5 after wisdom teeth, and sooner after a simple extraction. Swelling usually lasts 5–7 days. Opening your mouth wide can stay hard for up to a week. Pain and swelling that get worse again around days 4–6 can mean infection, so call your dentist if that happens.

          Week 2 after wisdom teeth removal

          Remaining soreness and bruising usually fade by about two weeks. Dissolving stitches usually go in 1–2 weeks, although they can take up to 4. If yours are still there after 10 days, gently rub a little toothpaste on them. You can add new foods now, but skip crunchy and chewy ones for a little longer. Nearby teeth can feel sensitive for a couple of weeks.

          Weeks 3 and 4: the gum closes over

          Gum tissue grows over the socket in weeks 3–4, and you can gently brush it. Crunchy and chewy foods are usually fine again. After a simple extraction, the soft tissue usually heals in about a month.

          Months 1 to 6: bone fills the socket

          Under the gum, the hollow slowly fills with bone. Cleveland Clinic says the jawbone takes several weeks and a molar socket up to 4 months; bone can take up to 6 months. Tissue samples from healing human sockets show early (woven) bone at around 6–8 weeks and mature bone at 12–24 weeks, with big differences between people. A small dip in the gum can last a while.

          Simple vs surgical extraction recovery

          A simple extraction removes a tooth that's fully out of the gum. Recovery is short: soreness for a day or two and side effects gone within a week. Surgical removal involves cutting the gum or bone, and it's the usual way impacted wisdom teeth (teeth 1, 16, 17 and 32) come out. Expect more swelling, a stiff jaw for up to a week, and soreness for up to two weeks. After lower wisdom teeth, about 1 in 10 people have some tingling or numbness of the lip or tongue for several weeks. Fewer than 1 in 100 have it for more than a year.

          Care guide: ice, salt water, brushing and sleeping

          • Cold packs: wrap one in a cloth and hold it on your cheek, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Cold helps most in the first 12–24 hours.
          • Salt water: from the day after, dissolve 1 level teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Rinse gently after meals and a few times a day for 3–7 days. Let it sit, then let it fall out.
          • Brushing: skip the first 8 hours, then brush as normal but gently near the wound. From day 3–4, brush gently around stitches.
          • Sleeping: keep your head raised on extra pillows for the first few days.
          • Driving: wait 24 hours after IV sedation and 48 hours after general anesthesia.

          For straws, smoking, alcohol and exercise, see When Can I…?. For meals, use the Soft Food Meal Planner.

          How this tool works

          • Day count: Day 0 is the calendar day of your extraction. Day 1 is the next calendar day, so a 4 PM surgery is "Day 1" the next morning. Rules that depend on hours, like no rinsing for 24 hours or no driving for 24–48 hours, use the exact time you entered.
          • Stages and care tips come from NHS hospital leaflets, Cleveland Clinic, the Merck Manual and the ADA. Where leaflets disagree, the tracker shows the range.
          • Gum closure progress counts toward day 28, based on "weeks 3–4" and "about one month."
          • Under the gum is approximate. It comes from a 2019 review of socket healing, and timing varies a lot.
          • Pain alert: if your pain on days 2–5 is 2 or more points above your lowest score since day 1, the tracker suggests the Dry Socket Checker. The 2-point rule is our own way to ignore small day-to-day changes. Pain that's clearly getting worse is worth a call either way. Day 0 isn't counted, because you may still be numb.
          • Privacy: your dates and check-ins stay in this browser. Share links carry only the day number and settings.

          It describes typical healing and can't examine your mouth, so follow your own surgeon's instructions.

          Frequently asked questions

          What day is the worst after wisdom teeth removal?
          Usually somewhere in the first three days. Swelling builds for 2–3 days, and Cleveland Clinic says day 3 is often the worst for pain. After that, things should slowly improve. Pain that gets worse after day 3 is a reason to call your dentist.
          How long does it take for a tooth extraction to heal?
          Most people feel normal within a week. The gum usually closes over the socket in 3–4 weeks, and the bone underneath takes several weeks to about 6 months to fill in.
          What should a healing socket look like?
          In the first days a normal socket holds a dark, scab-like blood clot. Over the next weeks new tissue replaces the clot, and the gum closes over the socket in about 3–4 weeks. A socket that looks empty, with whitish bone at the bottom, along with worsening pain, is consistent with dry socket.
          When do wisdom teeth stitches dissolve?
          Usually in 1–2 weeks, although some take up to 4 weeks. If they're still there after 10 days, one NHS leaflet suggests gently rubbing a little toothpaste on them.
          Can I go back to work the day after wisdom teeth removal?
          Many people can, especially after a local anesthetic. After harder surgery or general anesthesia, plan on 1–3 days off, and Cleveland Clinic suggests 3–5 days of rest. See When Can I…? for details.

          Sources

          1. NHS. Wisdom tooth removal (Recovering from wisdom tooth removal). reviewed 12 June 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          2. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Oxfordshire Community Dental Service – Mouth care after surgery. reviewed 18 July 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          3. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust. Tooth extraction after care. last edited 8 November 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          4. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Instructions following removal of teeth (leaflet 0338). June 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          5. Whittington Health NHS Trust. What to do after a tooth extraction?. October 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          6. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Removing Wisdom Teeth – Information for patients (OMI 88077). May 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          7. King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Removal of impacted wisdom teeth – Information for patients (PL410.7). December 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          8. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental surgery and recovery. reviewed January 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          9. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Surgical removal of teeth. updated 6 February 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          10. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Surgical extraction of teeth. version 6, November 2023. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          11. Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). Management of Acute Dental Problems – Quick Reference Guide. 2013. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          12. American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Extractions. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          13. Cleveland Clinic. Tooth Extraction: Surgery & Healing. updated 4 April 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          14. Cleveland Clinic. Wisdom Teeth Removal: Procedure & Recovery. updated 11 August 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          15. Cleveland Clinic. Dry Socket: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. updated 5 May 2025. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          16. Cleveland Clinic. Oral Surgery: Uses, Procedures & Recovery. updated 1 October 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          17. Merck Manual Professional Edition. Postextraction Problems. reviewed August 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          18. Kuśnierek W et al. Dent J (Basel) 2022;10(7):121. Smoking as a Risk Factor for Dry Socket: A Systematic Review. 2022. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          19. J Oral Maxillofac Res 2019;10(3):e2. Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Socket Healing in the Absence and Presence of Graft Materials and Autologous Platelet Concentrates: a Focused Review. 2019. Accessed October 26, 2026.
          20. Cleveland Clinic. Teeth: Anatomy, Types, Function & Care. last updated January 26, 2023. Accessed October 26, 2026.

          Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.

          When Can I…?Straw, smoking, alcohol, food: live countdowns Dry Socket CheckerSymptoms check and risk factors, with evidence Soft Food PlannerDay-by-day soft food menus and grocery list Numbness CalculatorWhen will my lip stop being numb? Emergency CheckerER, dentist today, or home care?