Many teens and young adults have had their wisdom teeth out or will have to have them out. For some people, it happens around age 15, but for some it's not until they're in their 20's or even later than that. Having recently had mine out at age 19, here's some things that have been running through my head.
1. Sleep.
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I was put under for my surgery so when I woke up I was so tired. Then, when I got home all I wanted to do was sleep. Many naps have been taken since I got my wisdom teeth out, and I'm not complaining.
2. Medication.
Medication and surgery of any kind usually go hand in hand, so the fact that I had three medications to take following my surgery was no surprise, but the taste was terrible.
3. Do I look like a chipmunk?
You see all these videos of people being all loopy and looking like a chipmunk after they have their wisdom teeth out and you fear you look like that too. But then, you check your face in the mirror and it's not that bad, in my case anyways.
4. How many pictures or videos were taken?
I do not want some crazy video of me all over Facebook or any pictures while I'm not fully conscious and aware of what's going on. Luckily, my family knew what was best for them and didn't take any. Not to mention the fact I was pretty alert and not that goofy after the surgery.
5. Food.
Right after my surgery I wasn't very hungry at all. It took me a good 4 to 6 hours to get hungry, and even then it wasn't a lot. But, as the days progressed I would get hungrier faster and for more filling foods other than jello and pudding.
6. Sleep...again.
Seriously, I was SO tired after my surgery, even a couple days afterwards. Nap time is the best time of the day for me.
7. It wasn't that bad.
Honestly, I thought it was going to be super painful and worse than it actually was. I worked it up to be so much but it really wasn't that bad. The anesthesia went perfectly, the IV was a little tricky but for me it always is, there wasn't tons of blood, and I wasn't that sore afterwards, and so far so good on infections but I don't want to jinx it.
8. Ugh, my face.
So I wasn't that sore afterwards, but my face just felt so weird. The numbness took a while to wear off and one side of my face was a bit more sore than the other but it still wasn't that bad. It was just that feeling of "ugh my face" and wishing it would just feel normal again, which even several days afterwards, it doesn't.
9. I want real food.
Being someone who regularly eats meat at least twice a day and loves food, jello and pudding and other soft foods just don't cut it. Sure, by the third day they say you can eat whatever you'd like, but there's that fear that you'll eat something and it will be incredibly painful or cause a problem.
10. Please, oh please do not get infected.
My biggest fear of getting my wisdom teeth out was them getting infected. I do not want to deal with that, medicated gauze, possibly another surgery, more medication? NO THANK YOU. I will do anything to keep them from getting infected, no matter how bad salt water rinses and the mouth wash tastes.
11. Can I sleep some more please?
So. Tired.
12. Omg. Someone give me some real food!
I just wanna eat meat again. And chips and salsa, and literally anything but soft, liquid foods. Please!
Getting your wisdom teeth out isn't that bad as long as you do what you're supposed to. Keep the surgery sites clean, sleep, ice, heat, and take the medication. Your mouth will feel weird for a bit but as time goes on things will get better.
