Wisdom teeth removal is never a welcomed experience even though it may be a necessary procedure. For both young people and adults, the process of removing your wisdom teeth can be a bit intimidating. In fact, many people don’t plan for what to do after it’s over. The fact of the matter is that the removal itself is only half the battle; then comes the recovery. If you’ve got an upcoming surgery to remove your wisdom teeth, here are four ways to recover after the ordeal to ensure your mouth heals properly.
Rest Up After Your Wisdom Teeth Removal
The best way to recover following your wisdom tooth removal is simple rest and relaxation. Like any kind of surgery or procedure, it’s going to be some time before you’re firing on all cylinders again. Make sure to avoid any foods that may damage your stitches. Give your mouth a break to let it heal up well, especially during the first few days following your procedure.
Medication
Following your tooth removal, you’re going to need to take some medication to prevent infection or poor healing. Antibiotics are a major part of this, given the high amount of bacteria in the average human mouth. This makes any kind of tooth extraction a high-risk for infection without the proper medicine, one of many reasons why it’s crucial to take all your antibiotics. As for pain management, you’ll likely want to take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter medication. It’s not uncommon for dentists to prescribe something stronger, but you should always use stronger drugs with caution and only with your doctor’s guidance.
Proper Diet
Eating right is a good way to recover from any type of surgery. Try to avoid harder or stickier foods that could damage your socket or remove stitches. Foods that are cold and soft are the best way to go for both pain management and preventing damage. Foods high in protein like eggs are a good choice to help repair the damage to your mouth as are foods with calcium to help your bones build up. Smoothies are another good option for something cold, especially those fortified with green vegetables that provide you with lots of good nutrients for recovery.
Teeth Cleaning After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Above all else, neglecting your teeth cleaning overall is the worst thing you could do after a tooth removal. One of the easiest ways to clean post-surgery is warm salt water rinses, something most dentists and surgeons recommend at least every hour and after each meal during the first week or so of recovery. Additionally, use a pipette or gentle water pick to clean out the surgery sites after a few days of healing as you’ll find food frequently hidden in those areas. Also, work with your surgical specialist during your recovery and any follow-up services. At Sacramento Surgical Arts, we can help with any issues you may have, including:
- Bone grafting surgery
- Dental implants and crowns
- Facial trauma treatment
- Oral pathology analysis
- TMJ and jaw treatments
Having a dentist remove your wisdom teeth may mean you’re in for a rough time, especially when it comes to recovering afterwards. To help you heal up in record time, try out these four recovery strategies above. If you need a place to have your wisdom teeth extraction in Sacramento, CA, contact Sacramento Surgical Arts today.
Our expert dental staff and wide array of services are perfect for taking care of all your teeth and mouth-related problems. Call us at 866.930.5837 to learn more.
