Worried about what to face after wisdom tooth extraction? No worries, as oral surgeons ensure a good job for tooth extraction to heal quickly. After tooth extraction surgery, it could take around three to five days to get back to your normal activities.
Dentists ensure to provide a list of aftercare instructions for better and quick recovery. In the meantime, we had concluded these major dos and don’ts for quick recovery of wisdom tooth extraction. So, let’s get right into it!
What to Do After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are generally developed between the ages of 17 and 25. If your wisdom teeth are perfectly aligned, then they are worthy assets for your mouth. But in most probabilities, these wisdom teeth are not aligned well and require proper removal.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction is a complex oral surgery that requires proper aftercare for proper healing. After getting your tooth extracted, follow the given instructions:
RestThe primary thing is to rest and relax well for at least two days. Elevate your head and arduous activities. Tooth extraction is a big trauma to your mouth. Therefore, it requires rest for a speedy recovery.
Take Antibiotics
Your oral surgeon might have prescribed you some antibiotics. Don’t forget to take them. Antibiotics avoid inflammation or infection in the wound created due to tooth extraction.
2. Rinse Your Mouth with A Warm Saltwater
It is natural to feel pain after tooth extraction. Therefore, it is advised to rinse the mouth with lukewarm saltwater to avoid any pain. Don’t rinse too harshly, as it might have adverse effects.
3. Stick to Liquids and Soft Foods
Post-operative symptoms might include numbness in half of your jaw. So, take liquids and soft foods that don’t irritate the extraction wound.
4. Use An Ice Pack
There might be a point when you might feel too much pain in your post-operative period. In such a case, putting an ice pack on your affected jaw is suggested to reduce the pain or inflammation. After 48 hours, switch to warm packs.
5. Do Jaw Exercises
The jaw’s slow open and close movement is appreciated to avoid numbness in the mouth. Although, don’t do any jaw exercises right after getting your tooth extraction.
6. Brush Gently
Don’t get back on your brushing technique. Brush regularly but be gentle to the affected side of the jaw. Although, it is recommended to avoid brushing on the first day after the surgery. Start it from the second day.
What to Avoid After Wisdom Teeth Removal
After wisdom tooth extraction, a layer of the blood clot is formed on the exposed tissues of the area. If the blood clot is dislodged, it might result in too much pain, and you might have to get another dental checkup.
To avoid dislodging of the blood clot and complicated risks, follow:
Stay Away from Solid Foods
Avoid sticky, hard, and crunchy foods because they will unfavorably affect your wisdom tooth extraction.
2. Using Straws Is a Big No
Using a straw to drink water or beverages highly triggers dislodging of the blood clot. Therefore, don’t use a straw for at least a week after your oral surgery.
3. Avoid Smoking
Avoiding smoking helps in maintaining the blood clot formed in the surgical area. Dislodging of blood clots leads to excessive bleeding and more pain. It may lead to “dry sockets” that are quite harsh to endure in scientific terms.
4. Do Not Eat Hard-To-Chew Food
For at least a week after your oral surgery, don’t indulge yourself in taking popcorn, potato chips, and other hard-to chew or sticky foods. Hot or carbonated drinks are also a big no! Because these not only affect the enamel protection of your teeth. But also infect the surgical wound. However, you can eat soft foods after 4 to 5 hours of tooth extraction.
5. Don’t Poke into The Gap.
Avoid poking into the gap with your tongue, finger, tissue, toothpick, or any sharp or soft thing. It will not only delay the healing process. But excessive poking might lead to bleeding, which causes dry sockets.
6. Don’t Rinse Your Mouth Too Aggressively.
Rinsing your mouth aggressively with water will cause too much pressure on the surgical wound. The pressure might also dislocate the blood clot formed, exposing the surgical part to an unhealthy environment.
When To Contact Your Oral Surgeon?
You might have heard that “no surgery is risk-free.” This phrase remains true if you don’t follow the aftercare instructions properly. But sometimes, even if you are acting upon the aftercare prescription, you might experience some discomfort.
In case the discomfort or pain lasts longer, you might need to see your oral surgeon. Other cases when you might need an oral checkup appointment can be:
- Pus or liquid flowing out of the surgical gap
- Pain that doesn’t reduce or keeps getting worse with time
- Fever that lasts for more than two days
- Numbness in the mouth that affects your eating
Conclusion:
Here, we have discussed the necessary dos and don’ts after getting wisdom tooth extraction surgery. Following these easy instructions will surely speed up your recovery without causing much discomfort or pain.
If bleeding doesn’t stop after 24 hours or if you are having severe pain and fever, it is recommended to get a dental checkup as soon as possible.
