I've had this operation done twice: first on my wisdom teeth and then on two of my twelve-year-old molars (big teeth, small jaw, you do the math). It can take quite a while to heal. The first time I got the operation done, it took probably about two and a half weeks before my swollen cheeks had completely shrunk and my bruises were completely faded (although they pulled five other teeth with the wisdom teeth). The second time it took about half the time to heel. But sometimes it can heel pretty quick. My sister was looking and feeling better after only a few days.

That said, when I'm talking about recovery here I'm talking about the swelling, the bruising, the inability to open one's mouth very far, etc., not so much about the pain. So I wouldn't panic about the swelling. But, in terms of pain, you shouldn't feel much of it (if you're on T3's). If you're taking Tylenol 3's, you should perhaps still feel some pain, but more of a pressure-like pain. If you're talking about pretty strong pain, then you should go see your surgeon immeidately.

That white stuff is pus. Pus means you have an infection. The most common cause of an infection after this surgery is getting food in the wounds. My first dental surgeon (different ones did the two operations) stressed for me that it was incredibly important to NOT CHEW my food because it could very easily get in the wounds. Not to mention that, if it does get in the wounds, you can't exactly brush it out. No, he told me to swallow everything whole (I was eating individual maccaroni pieces and such) or blend it and carefully drink it (no straws because it puts too much stress on the wounds which could then pop open) by pouring it straight down my throat. Just some tips to prevent more infections.

Did your surgeon prescribe any kind of peroxide or other oral rinse? These keep infection down too. Salt water does help too, yes, but the more rinses you use the better.

One of these answerers said that you shouldn't slosh the water around. This is quasi-true. The newly-sealed wounds don't have the strength to endure the standard kind of sloshing where you puff your cheeks in and out. But it is important that the salt water (or whatever other rinse) gets to the wounds. So, what my surgeons told me to do is put the rinse in my mouth, keep my mouth and jaw steady, and literally tilt my entire head in various directions so that the rinse goes all throughout my mouth.

The water pic is probably not the best idea. The force of those individual drops of water are probably more force than those wounds want to take right now.

My advice is to go see your dental surgeon about the infection. He/she should be able to prescribe you some kind of antibiotic to cure the infection. Don't feel bad about scheduling an emergency, squeeze-me-in kind of appointment. They're used to that. That's what they're paid for.

My second piece of advice is to do everything you can to prevent the other surgical sites from getting infected as well. I've given you some tips. Your surgeon may have even more.