Getting your wisdom teeth removed during the teenage years is a rite of passage for many people, and it's thankfully a procedure that is minimally invasive and takes just a short amount of time from which to recover. In the days that follow this procedure, it's important to be aware of how well the incisions are healing — especially if you had impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in more of an extensive procedure. You should be feeling better with every day that passes, but there's a small chance that you'll encounter some undesirable side effects of the procedure. If you experience any of the following issues, consult your kids' dentistry office promptly.

Prolonged Bleeding

It's common to notice some bleeding shortly after you have this dental procedure done. In many cases, dentists will send you home with some rolls of gauze, and you'll be instructed to push the cause against your incisions to soak up any blood that might be present. As time progresses, you should be noticing less blood, and eventually, there shouldn't be any blood in your mouth. If you're concerned that your incisions are bleeding longer than you feel is natural, you'll want to call your dentist's office.

Stitches Falling Out

When dentists sew up the openings in your mouth after removing your wisdom teeth, they'll frequently use stitches that will fall out in time. This is ideal because it saves you from having to return to the clinic to have the dentist remove the stitches. Generally, your dentist will tell you approximately when to expect the stitches to fall out. If you notice that the stitches are loose in your mouth well in advance of this date, you'll want to consult your dentist. The last thing that you need is a healing complication because of a loose stitch.

Suspected Infection

Your dentist will give you a number of steps to follow in order to avoid infection in your mouth after you've had your wisdom teeth removed. For example, gently rinsing your mouth with mouthwash can reduce the bacteria in your mouth that could cause infections. If you believe that you're experiencing some telltale signs of infection, you should call your dentist's office to describe your symptoms. Infection symptoms can include swelling around the affected area and the area feeling hotter than usual. In each of the above scenarios, your dentist can provide advice over the phone or arrange to see you to check out the situation promptly.