It’s that time! Wisdom teeth removal. You’re probably nervous.
You’ve heard your friends complain about how much it hurts. You’ve also heard them say all they ate was ice cream for the next week.
That doesn’t sound so bad, right? Read this wisdom teeth recovery guide to learn just what you should be doing to feel better in no time!
Do I Need to Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
No one wants to go through wisdom teeth surgery. Just like any surgery, it’s going to be uncomfortable. However, sometimes it is necessary.
In some cases, wisdom teeth grow perfectly. They erupt through the gums and cause no damage to the surrounding teeth. If this happens, you don’t need to get them removed if you don’t want to.
Dentists often recommend you get your wisdom teeth removed because they are hard to reach when brushing and could lead to infections.
Oftentimes, a wisdom tooth will be impacted. This means that it doesn’t have enough room to grow properly.
Impacted wisdom teeth can be painful and sometimes you won’t even notice them. Oral surgeons will remove them to prevent any future damage to the mouth.
Types of Anesthesia
When oral surgeons remove wisdom teeth, they’ll typically use one of two types of anesthesia. If they use local anesthesia, you’ll be awake during the procedure.
Under general anesthesia, you’ll be knocked out. Think of it as the best nap of your life!
Be Prepared
The first step of your recovery process is to prepare everything you need before you leave. Set up your bed, couch, or wherever you plan on relaxing.
Make sure you have ice in the freezer for future use. You’ll be tired and dazy when you get home and that will be one last step.
After Procedure
The oral surgeon will send you home with ice on your face and a prescription for painkillers. Your face will be swollen and you’ll want to alternate the ice with heat to lower the swelling.
There will be gauze in your mouth to stop the bleeding and you’ll get some extras. You should replace the gauze often.
Don’t worry about the pain! It won’t last too long. You can read more here.
Relax
If there’s one thing you should do to help the wisdom teeth recovery process, it’s this.
Stay elevated to relieve the pain. Try taking a nap or watching a movie!
What To Eat During Wisdom Teeth Recovery
This is what you really want to know!
If you were under general anesthesia, don’t eat too much right away because it may make you feel sick.
Soft foods are your friend! Remember that ice cream that your friends ate? Go ahead and grab it!
You can also eat some of these foods to name a few:
- applesauce
- mashed potatoes
- pureed soup
Things To Avoid
You should avoid eating any tiny foods, such as nuts and seeds, that could get lodged in your wounds.
Hot foods can burn wounds. They can also increase your chance of dry sockets.
Avoid drinking from straws or smoking for the first few days of your wisdom teeth recovery. Sucking motions can dislodge your blood clot.
Keep The Area Clean
Your oral surgeon will provide you with an irrigation syringe after wisdom teeth removal. You’ll get to know each other.
Your doctor may prescribe you a mouthwash. The syringe is crucial for getting into those wounds.
Along with the mouth wash, you’ll want to use the syringe to rinse with salt water after each meal. You can also do this throughout the day to ensure clean wounds.
Make sure you brush your teeth gently to avoid irritating the blood clots.
Are You Ready?
See, the wisdom teeth recovery process doesn’t sound terrible! Make sure you relax, eat, and take proper care of your mouth.
When you’re ready to have wisdom teeth extraction, you can visit a dentist near me sun city to get started.
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out our health section for more oral care tips!
