Dental Health Tips - Oswal Dental Clinic

Most of us will not look forward to getting our wisdom teeth removed. But, removing it really helps as it helps you to maintain your oral health. After your wisdom tooth/teeth have been removed, the oral surgeon will give you the necessary instructions which will give you a lot of relief.

Here are a few wisdom teeth removal recovery tips which will make the whole experience bearable and smoother.

• Rest: Relax and take ample rest which will help you to recover faster. Get plenty of sleep for at least 2 to 3 days after surgery.
• How to Sleep: It is advisable to sleep in a recliner using a neck pillow as sleeping on a bed might put too much of pressure on your jaw. Also while lying on your side; you might bite your cheeks more. In case you do not have a recliner, you can try sleeping on a couch or a comfortable chair so that you can prop yourself up.
• Ice: Ice is very handy after a wisdom tooth surgery. You should keep ice on your cheeks non-stop for several days after surgery. This will help the healing process of your mouth more effective and quicker too.
• Stitches: If you have stitches do not pick on them.
• Chewing: Do not chew until the swelling in your cheeks and gums is reduced. If you chew, you’ll end up biting them and the inflammation will increase and will take a longer time to subside.
• Medication: Take the prescribed medicines regularly. It is best suggested that you keep track of the medicine schedule on a written log. The full course of the antibiotics has to be taken as prescribed though you might stop taking the pain medication.
• Gauze: Use plenty of gauze as it will help to clot the holes after the first few hours of surgery. Initially, you might require replacing the gauze every 20 to 40 minutes and then the frequency of replacement can be reduced. Later the gauze can be replaced after a few hours.
• Driving: Do not drive while taking the pain medication as they may cause drowsiness.
• Diet: For the first 2 to 3 days you should eat only soft and liquid foods. You can start trying to chew 7 days after surgery. Here is a list of foods to eat and food that has to be avoided after the wisdom tooth surgery.

1. Food to Eat
   • Any Drink- Water, Soda, Milk, etc.
   • Smoothies
   • Take nutrition drink to ensure that your get your essential vitamins.
   • Yogurt
   • Jello & Pudding
   • Sherbet and softened ice cream without anything crunchy mixed in it
   • Mashed Potatoes
   • Soups and broths without any meat or chewy vegetables
   • Cottage cheese
   • Custard
   • Scrambled eggs chopped up finely
   • Finely chopped plain pasta
2. Food to Avoid
   • Chewy substances like meat, sandwiches whole fruits and vegetables
   • Junk food and snacks like cookies, chips and candies
   • Peanuts
   • Peanut butter as it is too sticky for the sore jaws to manage and also because it cannot be washed out of the holes in the mouth you will have after surgery
   • Oatmeal as it will easily get stuck in the holes
   • Anything which is acidic and spicy as it can hurt the gums while they are still healing

You can take rice and oatmeal once you start rinsing your mouth with a syringe.

• Mouth Care: Do not open your mouth too wide while it is healing whether you are coughing, yawning, talking or eating.

• Rinsing:
  1. Rinsing your mouth: For the first two days or while you are still eating soft food, rinse you mouth with water. Depending on the speed of your healing, you can brush your teeth gently probably on the second or third day and rinse your mouth with a mouthwash shortly thereafter.
  2. Rinsing with a syringe: When you go to the oral surgeon for a follow up, or when you have to get the stitches removed you will be given a syringe to rinse out the holes, which cut into your gums. This syringe can be used to rinse out the holes after eating, in addition to brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash till your gums completely heal. In case you do not rinse out the holes properly, you can face the risk of infections due to the accumulation of residual food particles on top of the healing gums.

• Brushing: Brush your teeth gently and use a mouth wash. Try to do so after every time you eat something.

Oswal Dental and Oral surgery clinic has been successfully conducting wisdom tooth surgery in Pune. The surgeons feel that it is very important to take things slowly. Do not push yourself too much to do things soon like any other surgery. It is always better to let your gums heal properly. If you hurry through it then you will end up experiencing a lot of complications or infections and you will have to visit the surgeon again. It is very important to follow the instructions given by the oral surgeons both before and after the wisdom tooth surgery as it will help the healing process to be more smooth and comfortable.