Wisdom teeth removal is one of the serious dental procedures that require proper aftercare. Proper care is important after the extraction surgery. This is because complications could arise if the site of the extraction is not cared for well. Issues like pain, swelling, and infections are common if a patient doesn’t follow the aftercare instructions. You will get useful tips when you visit our dentist today for teeth extraction near you.
This article has important aftercare tips that will ensure you don’t develop complications. Following these instructions after tooth extraction will prevent swelling, excessive pain, and infections. Keep reading to get all the information you need about aftercare tips for wisdom teeth extraction.
What to Do Immediately After the Surgery
What you do immediately following the procedure will determine the success of your recovery. Do the following immediately after the surgery.
Keep the Gauze Pad in Place
Keep the gauze pad that the dentist placed at the surgery site for at least 30 minutes. Only remove and discard the gauze pad after half an hour has elapsed. Removing it sooner could encourage complications like bleeding.
Avoid Touching the Wound
You shouldn’t touch the wound even if it feels itchy. This is because you could dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding. You should also avoid vigorously rinsing your mouth in order to prevent bleeding. You can talk to our dentist in St Pete Beach, FL if you accidentally dislodge the blood clot.
Take the Prescribed Medication
Once you feel any discomfort, take the prescribed medication for pain. This will take care of the pain so that you can relax. You can also take antibiotics to prevent any infections. Remember to complete the done dose even if the swelling and the pain are gone.
Ice It
Icing is an ideal way to ease the pain and the swelling after a wisdom tooth extraction. Apply a pack of ice to the side of the wound for 10 to 20 minutes. You can take the ice pack off the side of the wound for 30 minutes and ice it again.
Only Eat Soft Foods
It is important to ensure you are having a nutritious diet after wisdom tooth extraction. A nutritious diet will fasten the healing process and protect you from infections. You should ensure you only take soft foods until you fully recover. Hard foods can injure the site and cause bleeding among other complications.
Get Enough Rest
It is important to get plenty of rest after a wisdom tooth extraction. This will ensure faster healing. You should get enough sleep during your recovery time. Ensure you sleep for at least eight hours. Enough sleep will reduce swelling as it causes a drop in blood pressure.
Maintain a Clean Mouth
A clean mouth will keep infections at bay. Gently brush your teeth to avoid dislodging the blood clot. You should also regularly rinse your mouth with warm salty water. This will ensure no infection occurs and will make the recovery faster. You can visit us at Dental Arts SPB for more information on keeping infections at bay.
Things to Avoid After Wisdom Tooth Removal
Here is a list of things you should avoid after wisdom tooth removal to ensure a faster recovery.
Drinking
Although alcohol can kill bacteria, it may allow infection-causing bacteria to survive while killing good ones. This will leave your mouth with more infection-causing bacteria than good ones. This will slow down your recovery. To be on the safe side, quit drinking until you fully recover.
Sugary Candy
Candies contain a lot of sugar which speeds up plaque formation. Bacteria in the mouth break down these sugars causing plaque. A lot of sugar will encourage more bacteria which may end up causing infections.
Smoking
The chemical components of tobacco can be harmful to a wound in the mouth. These chemicals can promote infections and cause other complications. You should also avoid electronic cigarettes as they will cause your mouth to dry. Without enough saliva in your mouth, your wound is at a higher risk of developing infections.
Crunchy Snacks
Crunchy snacks and foods like nuts and potato chips can bruise your wound and expose it to bacteria. Healing is longer in patients who eat crunchy and hard foods. Avoid these foods until you recover. Visit our clinic today for painless tooth extraction and tips for aftercare.
