Two states side by side, with amoxycilin 3 times per day in peace and security until finished.

November 17, 2005 7:53 PM

How long must I abstain from exercise after a tooth extraction?

Today I had four wisdom teeth removed. Everything is going OK; the mouth is healing as we speak. I was told to avoid strenuous exercise for one week to ensure I don't start bleeding again. Is this true? How do you know when you're safe? (I know AskMe probably isn't the best place to solicit medical advice, but since the instruction came from a health care subprofessional whose main task was to escort me to the elevator, and, like most of the chats I have with this clinic's staff, it sounded as rehearsed as a state department official's wish for a Palestinian state or a nuclear free Korean peninsula. In general, I can't actually have the face time with the people who know enough to give me advice particular to me. I suppose the next best thing is to hear others' experiences. I know that people have been writing in about dental stuff lately, and I'm sorry if this is redundant, but it's because those queries got so many good responses that I'm asking.)

posted by rschram to health & fitness (8 comments total)

When I had 4 of my bicuspids removed, they told me 3 to 4 days I believe. Depending on whether or not your wisdom teeth were large, or impacted, you really may want to wait that week. You're going to be in a world of hurt if you don't wait till your body is ready.
posted by mhuckaba at 8:06 PM on November 17, 2005

those warnings sound rehearsed because they have to be. if they don't tell you to cool it for a week, and you go run a marathon, they get in trouble. that trouble is called malpractice and it's ugly.

Now for answers to questions you didn't ask, but maybe wish you did, along with some late night rambling:
Appreciate this opportunity to have some quiet time to yourself. Enjoy the chance to take a week from work (if that is affordable for you) and don't play basketball or any other possibly traumatic sports/games. I won't discount the use of the word strenuous, but as I manage a dental office (thankfully no oral surgery) I will stress to you that any blows to your face could be bad bad bad. You don't want your head to be bobbing up and down either, as it does in running and maybe even biking for some folks.

You've got four open wounds, and healing wounds like stability. also follow their advice about ice and/or heat to the affected areas to the letter. If you haven't, call them and ask what course of action you should take now, especially if you develop pain.

Don't suck through a straw. Don't smoke cigarette.

Take long slow walks if you're feeling stir crazy.

Oh, and congrats on feeling well after your surgery, I was absolutely miserable after all three of my wisdom extractions (yeah, i wised up for the last pair!) but you may not even remember posting this tomorrow, depending on how you were sedated and how long after they woke you up you were posting.
posted by bilabial at 8:09 PM on November 17, 2005

Take it easy. Very, very easy. When I had my wisdom teeth removed I felt mildly uncomfortable for about a day. Then I felt quite a bit better for about two days-- almost healed! Certainly healthy enough to be out and about and running around with my friends! On day four and five my mouth began to hurt more. Days six through fourteen were spent in almost constant pain and Vicoden daze as I dealt with at two dry sockets and searing stomach pains because I couldn't eat and the painkillers were destroying my stomach lining.

The Moral of This Story is: Dry socket doesn't set in for three to four days after the surgery. Until you've passed that danger zone, don't do ANYTHING strenuous or risky, just set yourself up in a lazyboy with some videos and eat applesauce and SlimFast and just chill out. It's worth it.
posted by bonheur at 8:17 PM on November 17, 2005

I had all of my wisdom teeth removed earlier this year. Like you, rschram, I also felt great after the procedure and wanted to continue on with my regular exercise routine -- a brisk walk and some light weights and crunches -- as soon as the drugs had worn off. The bottom line however is that my ultimate decision to ignore the nurse's warning to take it easy was a massive mistake. For example, it was just on 24 hours later when I figured I was up for doing my usual workout (3 hours in all). I pushed myself and pushed myself until before I knew it I'd built up my blood pressure so much that I felt like I was doing damage to the open wounds in my mouth. Yeah, they were aching incredibly. A day later I realised that I had actually ruptured a blood vessel within my gum and the pressure from this caused one wound to burst its stitches. Mate, it wasn't pretty. And I'm not trying to make this sound bigger than it was -- that's just not my style -- but the bleeding was horrendous and the pain very uncomfortable. I was rushed to the dentist immediately and had to have the wound restitched under a local anaesthetic (the dental nurse almost fainted during this procedure too). Um, even today after all these months later I have chunky scar tissue in my mouth. Do you really want to risk this? I know it's not worth it. Perhaps get a DVD, grab a crossword puzzle, or just do something that's not strenuous. Your body will thank you for it. Plus a few days off will be good for you. I say milk it for all its worth.

And good luck with your recovery.
posted by sjvilla79 at 11:24 PM on November 17, 2005

I say milk it for all its worth.

Bloody contractions. I mean it is worth.
posted by sjvilla79 at 11:28 PM on November 17, 2005

I had a wisdom tooth removed in a nightmarish, Dario-Argentoish 1-hour and 10 minutes procedure by my ex-dentist (heh). he told me not to work out for at least 3 days, I was at the gym less than 48 hours after that fucking nightmare (he had pulverized most of my tooth trying to pull it out, 'nuff said).
just don't go into the sauna or steam bath after your workout.
posted by matteo at 7:08 AM on November 18, 2005

i had my wisdom teeth removed when i was younger and rode a bicycle 5 miles from the dentist's office after he was done ... i was just fine

but your experience may differ ...
posted by pyramid termite at 7:23 AM on November 18, 2005

Something of a tilt toward no exercise until the mouth is good and clotted up, or 3-5 days. The reason on the antiexercise side is that a higher heart rate will cause bleeding and you'll lose your clot and get a dry socket. But everyone's different I guess.

This is funny because it's contrary to my folk model of healing. Exercise (of the right sort, of course) promotes faster recovery. Something about circulation and breathing out the jive and so forth makes the injury demons flee the body. But as many have said, I do have four wounds in the mouth now, so don't force the body to do anything it can't.
posted by rschram at 7:40 AM on November 18, 2005