How long until the numbness goes away after wisdom teeth

As with any type of surgery, wisdom tooth removal carries some risks. However, these risks are usually small.

Risks can include:

  • dry socket – where a blood clot fails to develop in the tooth socket, or if the blood clot becomes dislodged 
  • nerve injury – this can cause temporary or permanent problems, such as tingling or numbness 
  • infection – signs include a high temperature, yellow or white discharge from the extraction site, and persistent pain and swelling
  • bleeding

See your dentist if you have signs of infection after having your wisdom teeth removed, or if you're bleeding heavily from the extraction site.

Dry socket

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is one of the most common complications of wisdom tooth removal. It's where a blood clot fails to develop in the tooth socket, or if the blood clot becomes dislodged or disappears. This can happen 3 to 5 days after surgery.

The empty socket causes an ache or throbbing pain in your gum or jaw, which can be intense like a toothache. There may also be an unpleasant smell or taste from the empty tooth socket. If you look into the socket, you might be able to see exposed bone rather than a blood clot.

You're more at risk of developing dry socket if:

  • you don't follow your dentist's instructions after the extraction
  • you smoke
  • you've had the condition before
  • you're over 25 years old
  • the extraction was difficult or complicated

See your dentist or surgeon if you think you have dry socket. They can flush any debris out of the socket or cover it with a medicated dressing, which may be removed and replaced frequently until it heals.

Nerve injury

Although far less common than dry socket, injury to sections of a nerve called the trigeminal nerve is another possible complication of wisdom tooth removal. It can cause pain, a tingling sensation and numbness in your tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums.

The damage is usually temporary, lasting for a few weeks or months. However, it can be permanent if the nerve has been severely damaged.

A nerve injury can interfere with your daily activities, making things such as eating and drinking difficult. However, a nerve injury will only cause sensation problems – it won't cause any weakness to your lip or tongue.

Your dentist or surgeon will try to minimise the possibility of nerve damage when removing your wisdom tooth, and they should tell you about the risk of complications before the procedure.

General anaesthetic

General anaesthetic is occasionally needed for the removal of wisdom teeth.

It carries some additional risks, but complications are very rare, occurring in less than 1 in every 10,000 cases.

Page last reviewed: 17 May 2021
Next review due: 17 May 2024

After Your Surgery

Post-Operative Instructions

Jaw Stiffness: This should resolve in one to two weeks with healing and increased use of the jaw.

Numbness: You may experience numbness of the tongue, lower lip, chin, or gum tissue. This is generally a temporary condition. It may last for a few days or many months. Contact the office if this condition persists for more than one week.

Shifting of Teeth: Teeth adjacent to the extraction site may seem to have shifted slightly, causing some discomfort. This sensation is usually temporary and should resolve itself.

Irritation: You may notice irritation, sores, or cracking of the lips and corners of the mouth. This is due to chapped lips and/or stretching of the lips during surgery. It is best treated by keeping the lips well lubricated with a mild ointment.

Sharp Bony Edges: Occasionally, patients will detect hard substances with their tongue in the area of the extraction. This is the bony wall that surrounded the tooth. In most cases, this is a temporary condition. Please contact the office if this persists.

Dry Socket: This term refers to a condition which may arise after the removal of teeth. Symptoms may include a throbbing, radiating pain. This pain may radiate to the ear, jaw, teeth, head, or throat. This discomfort would normally resolve without treatment; however, the pain can be managed through the use of over-the-counter pain relievers and/or with medicated dressings placed in the extraction socket. If you think you may have this condition, please call the office so we may help you.

A trip to the dentist for a routine filling, root canal, or other procedure will likely require a local anesthetic to numb the area and prevent you from feeling pain during your treatment. In most situations, the anesthesia your dentist uses will numb the tooth for 1 to 2 hours. Additionally, the following 3 to 5 hours may leave your lips, face, and tongue numb, which can be frustrating if you’re attempting to return to normal activities immediately following your appointment. 

Having patience is the most common way to address the numbness as it will naturally wear away with time; however, these at-home remedies may help!

Massage Your Skin

If no swelling is present, apply a warm compress to help increase blood flow to the affected area. In addition to using a warm compress, try massaging your lips to warm them, and increase blood flow. Avoid touching the treatment area directly, and always wash your hands before and after massaging your lips, mouth, and face.

Get Active

Ask your dentist if it’s safe to participate in physical activity following your dental procedure. Taking a brisk walk, going for a bike ride, or even tacking a few chores around the house will help to reduce numbness in a natural way. Being active stimulates blood flow in the body, which helps to carry the anesthesia away from the injection site. The encouraging movement will enable your body to break down and metabolize the novocaine that was used during your treatment. 

Take a Nap 

While taking a nap is the opposite of being active, falling asleep can help to get your mind off of the fact that certain areas of your mouth and face are numb. Sit back, relax, and allow the numbing sensation to pass until the sensation wears off peacefully.

Ask For Another Injection 

Some dental practices use medicine that can reverse the effects of general anesthesia. While this will mean another injection, a second reversal injection can also help to make the numbness dissipate twice as fast as just waiting it out. A reversal injection typically costs $25-$75, and most insurance companies will not cover the injection, due to the fact that it is not medically necessary. 

Have Patience 

Since different types of dental procedures require different amounts of anesthesia, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long your mouth will stay numb after a procedure. Additionally, other factors come into play as to how long the numbing sensation will last, such as your height, weight, and how fast your body is able to metabolize the anesthesia. Where in your mouth you needed work done also comes into play as the bottom jaw is a large nerve block that controls sensations to more areas of your face. 

Have patience in allowing the anesthesia to wear off before making a big presentation at work, having a date with a romantic interest, or eating a big meal. You should be feeling like yourself in no-time. 

Make a Follow-up Dental Appointment 

While a local anesthetic following a dental procedure can cause lip numbness for two or three hours, prolonged numbness could indicate a complication. If, after five hours, you’re experiencing persistent numbness following a dental implant, filling, wisdom tooth extraction, or another dental procedure, contact your dentist. A follow-up visit may be necessary as lingering numbness after an oral procedure could indicate nerve damage or an abscess. 

Contact Tompkins Dental today if you’d like to hear additional tips for speeding up the return of normal sensation following a dental procedure, or if you have any concerns regarding prolonged numbness. 

How long will the numbness last after wisdom teeth removal?

This numb sensation might tend to last at a minimum of two hours to up to five hours. However, if the dentist gives you a very high dose of painkillers during the wisdom tooth extraction procedure, it might take even longer than five hours.

How do you make numbness go away after wisdom teeth removal?

Reversing Dental Numbness.
Sleep it off. If you have the time to do so, a quick nap could be all it takes to help you reverse the numbness. ... .
Exercise. Engaging in light physical activity after a dental procedure can help stimulate blood flow which can help the anesthesia wear off. ... .
Swish salt water. ... .
Massage gently..

Why is my lip and chin numb after wisdom teeth removal?

Nerve injury Although far less common than dry socket, injury to sections of a nerve called the trigeminal nerve is another possible complication of wisdom tooth removal. It can cause pain, a tingling sensation and numbness in your tongue, lower lip, chin, teeth and gums.