So, you’ve just had your wisdom teeth removed. Now, it’s time to focus on recovery. To heal faster and feel better, learn the essential dos and don’ts post-surgery to ensure a smooth healing process. Here’s what to do and what not to do after wisdom teeth extraction for a speedy recovery and minimal discomfort.
What should I expect after surgery?
Knowing what to expect makes you feel much less stressed about the care you’ll need after surgery. A day or two after surgery, you might feel pain and swelling around your eyes and cheeks. This swelling may get worse for up to 72 hours after surgery.
Put an ice pack on your mouth for 20 minutes, then take it off for 20 minutes. This will help reduce pain and swelling. For the first 48 hours, you can do this a few times a day. If you don’t have an ice pack, use a plastic bag with crushed ice that zips closed. If you want to ease pain or stiffness after 48 hours, stop using ice and use a heat pack instead.
The things you can do to help the body heal are:
The wound (the place where the surgery was done) will usually heal in two to four weeks. Here are some essential things you can do to speed up this process:
Keep your mouth clean:
Be careful when brushing your teeth the night before surgery. Rinse your mouth out the next day. After that, gently rinse your mouth with a cup of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt at least five to six times a day, especially after meals.
Take medications:
Take the painkillers your doctor gives you to stay comfortable and control your pain. Also, if your dentist gives you medicines, take them exactly as your dentist tells you to. Find trusted dental clinics for wisdom teeth extractions near you to ensure safe and convenient oral surgery procedures.
Use a tea bag:
Do not expect them to make you calm. The tannic acid in tea helps narrow blood vessels and stop bleeding. Place a wet tea bag over the wound and bite down hard for twenty to thirty minutes.
Get lost in the rest:
After having your wisdom teeth taken out, you should not do any physical exercise for 24 hours. While you rest, prop your head up with some soft pillows, and don’t sleep on the side where your extraction was.
Go back to your regular cleaning routine:
Once the first 24 hours are over, you can resume brushing and flossing as usual. Remember to stay away from the area. At this point, you can also start wearing dental retainers again. If your teeth hurt, you can wait up to a week before starting your dental treatment again.
Watch your diet:
First, eat smoothies, ice cream, yogurt, and pudding, which are soft and kind of cold. Slowly move on to semisolids, like warm soup, and after a few days, you can move on to solids. Here are some healthy meals that taste great and will make your free time more fun.
Not to do after getting your wisdom teeth taken out.
Now that a dentist near you has removed your wisdom teeth, you’re relaxing and healing well. You need to do a few things to ensure you don’t mess up your recovery.
Do not use straws:
It is essential not to move the blood clot that has formed in the socket, or you could get a condition called dry socket. For the first 24 hours, don’t rinse your mouth too hard, chew on a straw, or drink fizzy drinks.
Do not smoke or drink alcohol:
If possible, don’t smoke or drink for at least 48 hours after surgery, but not for the first week.
Don’t blow your nose:
It might be hard to do this if your nose is running or feeling stuffy. Don’t blow your nose for the first 14 days; gently wipe it.
Do not eat foods that are hard to chew:
Some foods, like grains, nuts, and popcorn, can be hard to eat after an extraction because they can hurt the soft tissues. Taking them off the menu for about a week before making them available again.
If you do these simple things after removing your wisdom teeth, you should be well on your way to healing in just a few days.
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