Helpful Aftercare Tips For Wisdom Teeth Removal
Posted on: 25 July 2022
Removing wisdom teeth is a common procedure due to how these teeth typically do not have room to grow properly. They lead to complications such as impaction, where the wisdom teeth can grow into other teeth and cause their placement to shift. That's why extraction early in their development is essential. However, your aftercare when recovering from the surgery is just as important. Here are a few helpful tips to follow.
Immediately After The Procedure
Realize that your mouth is going to be very numb immediately after the procedure is finished. Know that you can accidentally bite your lip or tongue, so avoid eating if possible. You will also want to take any prescribed pain medications prematurely so that they are already working when the numbing medication wears off.
You will be given gauze to gently bite down on to help with potential bleeding. Hold the gauze in place, but swap them out with new gauze once you return home if they are saturated with blood. To deal with swelling, use a cold compress on your face to help alleviate the pain. Don't use a hot compress, because it will bring more blood to the area.
Within 24 Hours Of The Procedure
You'll want to take steps to ensure that a blood clot forms within the socket, which means avoiding activities that can cause it to become loose. This includes using straws, spitting, smoking, and any sort of sucking that applies pressure to your mouth. You'll also want to avoid brushing the teeth next to the empty socket because the bristles can irritate it and cause a blood clot to become dislodged if you are not careful.
When it comes to what you eat, try to stick to soft foods that do not require chewing. Things like scrambled eggs, oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, and soups are a good idea. You want to avoid drinking liquids that are very hot and can get into the socket as well. Try to stay hydrated and drink plenty of liquids during this time as well.
1 Day After The Procedure
You can finally start cleaning that tooth next to the socket. When rinsing out your mouth, try using a salt water rinse to clean the area. Just move your head back and forth so that the water can get into the socket, and let the water drip out of your mouth instead of spitting it out. Be aware that you should contact your dentist if the pain and swelling get worse or if you develop a fever. This is a sign of an infection that needs to be treated.
For more information about wisdom teeth removal, contact a local dentist.
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