Wisdom teeth are teeth that start to erupt after we hit the age of 17. If there is not enough space for them to grow, these teeth cause a lot of pain which is why we may have to extract them. Other reasons why you might need wisdom tooth extraction are an impacted tooth or the formation of cysts, tumors, or even gum disease.
We all know that wisdom tooth extraction can be a very painful process. And to make it less so, the aftercare that follows the procedure is crucial. So here are some dos and don’ts that are suggested by dentists to recover safely and promptly after this procedure.
Dos and Don’ts after Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Dos:
Rest.
Take proper rest and care for the next 2-3 days after the procedure. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get completely bedridden, but fewer physical activities can help.
Elevate your Head.
You need to place your head on elevated surfaces whenever you’re lying down, as this increases the rate of the blood clotting process.
Ice.
Use an ice pack on the affected areas after the first 24 to 48 hours of the extraction to help reduce the swelling and bleeding.
Bite on Cotton Gauze.
Biting on the gauze really hard helps with the blood clotting process. Dismiss the gauze every thirty minutes and swallow your saliva each time you do so.
Keep your mouth clean.
Use saltwater regularly to clean your mouth. A clean mouth is necessary to avoid infection, and drink fluids every now and then.
Consume Liquids and Soft Foods.
Try to drink water and other beverages and eat soft food. This will give your teeth the time to heal.
Eat on the other side.
Eat the soft foods on the side of the mouth that have not undergone extraction. As mentioned before, rest is very, very important.
Jaw exercises.
Be gentle while doing jaw exercises. Start doing those after 2-3 days of the wisdom tooth extraction. Your jaw will come out less stiff after the recovery by doing these.
Don’ts:
No straws.
Straws ask us to suck the fluid from them forcefully. This is a difficult exercise for our healing mouth. Don’t use straws after the procedure for at least 2-3 days.
No brushing.
Don’t brush your teeth for 24 hours after the extraction. You may hurt yourself with the toothbrush while doing so, and the mint, which causes a pleasant coolness in the mouth, may feel like an unpleasant burn. Instead, use salt water to clean your mouth.
Less eating, talking, and drinking.
Again rest is very important. Give your mouth some rest by eating, talking, and drinking less during the first few days.
Stop icing.
Stop icing after 48 hours of the extraction, as icing won’t be effective on the swelling. You should now shift to a heat pack to decrease the swelling.
Do not drink alcohol or smoke.
Do not partake in drinking alcohol or smoking for 2-3 days after the procedure. Drinking alcohol hinders blood clot formation, and it may replace itself there, which may result in a dry socket. A dry socket is the failure of blood clot formation due to the dislodging and dissolving of the blood clot itself.
Do not take Aspirin.
Do not take Aspirin as a painkiller after the procedure because Aspirin thins the blood while doing its work.
Avoid sneezing or coughing.
This seems a weird “don’t,” but sneezing and coughing are too sudden actions for our mouth to handle after the extraction.
No hot beverages.
Avoid drinking hot beverages for a couple of days after the surgery. Drinking hot beverages can be very painful after tooth extraction. It may also dislodge a formed blood clot, or it may prevent blood clot formation in the first place.
Other than following these dos and don’ts, perform all the activities suggested by your dentists and do take the prescribed medicines. If you have wisdom tooth-related queries, our team of doctors is here at your service. For other oral health issues, visit Oswal Dental Clinic.