The third molars, also called wisdom teeth, typically emerge somewhere between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, and quite often the patient does not have enough room in their mouth to accommodate them. In these cases, they can push the other teeth out of alignment, making them harder to clean and easier to injure while also potentially ruining years of orthodontic work. To prevent these things from happening, many people have their wisdom teeth removed. Here’s what you can do to keep your recovery from wisdom tooth extraction as speedy and comfortable as possible.
Oral Care Immediately After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Immediately after surgery, you should follow these steps:
- Wear the gauze pad placed over the surgical site for half an hour, then remove and discard it.
- Leave the surgical site alone as much as possible. Excessive touching of the area or rinsing of the mouth can agitate the wound, causing bleeding or dislodging the blood clot.
- Begin taking the prescribed pain medications when you begin to feel discomfort after the anesthesia begins to wear off.
- Avoid intense physical activity for a few days or more until you feel comfortable.
- Use ice packs on the cheeks over the surgical sites. This will help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Eating After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Eating after having your wisdom teeth removed is no picnic. The first thing to remember is not to drink through straws, as the repeated sucking motion can cause the blood clot to dislodge, resulting in a severely painful condition called dry socket. You will have to stick to a soft diet while healing, and take care not to chew around the surgical sites. The healing process needs food to fuel it, so regularly consume foods high in protein and calories and do your best not to skip any meals. Hydration is equally important to staying comfortable and healing quickly.
Habits to Avoid After Having Wisdom Teeth Removed
Tobacco and alcohol use can both hinder the healing process. Inhaling smoke causes the gums to harden in defense while also restricting circulation to the gums, making it harder for the mouth to repair itself. The sucking motion used when smoking may also contribute to a blood clot becoming dislodged, leading to dry socket. Alcohol, on the other hand, disrupts just about every process in the human body, including healing. The best course of action is to not smoke or drink at all when healing from wisdom tooth extraction.
If you are having your wisdom teeth removed, chances are that these troublesome teeth have been quite uncomfortable to deal with. While recovering from wisdom tooth extraction isn’t a lot of fun, it will also be the beginning of a much more comfortable life without them.
About the Author
Dr. Parsia Koleini graduated magna cum laude from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine before completing a residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry. He proudly serves as a member of the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society. His practice in Haverhill, MA offers general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in addition to wisdom tooth extractions. For more information on recovering from wisdom tooth removal, contact the office online or dial (978) 650-2793.