Wisdom Teeth Aftercare: Essential Tips for Proper Care
The wisdom teeth are the last of your molars to come in, usually appearing between the ages of 17 to 25. They are often referred to as “third molars” and can cause a lot of pain and discomfort if they don’t properly fit or align with your other teeth. If you have recently had your wisdom teeth removed, it is important to take care of them properly so that you do not experience any further complications. Here are some essential tips for proper Wisdom Teeth Aftercare.
1. Follow Post-Procedure Instructions:
After having your wisdom tooth extracted, you must follow all post-operative instructions given by your oral surgeon or dentist carefully. This includes taking medications as prescribed, refraining from certain activities such as smoking or drinking alcohol, avoiding hot liquids and spicy foods, rinsing with salt water regularly, and keeping the extraction site clean at all times. Make sure to ask questions if there is anything that you do not understand about the aftercare instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
2. Monitor Your Oral Health:
It is important to monitor your overall oral health following wisdom tooth removal procedures; this includes looking out for signs of infection such as pain, swelling, or tenderness in the area where the wisdom tooth was extracted as well as fever or general malaise. It also involves keeping an eye on any food stuck under the gum line, which may need extra attention from a dental professional. If you notice any symptoms that could indicate an infection, contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice on how best to proceed with treatment and/or prevention measures.
3. Avoid Straws & Chewing Gum:
When recovering from wisdom teeth surgery, it is best to avoid using straws and chewing gum until instructed otherwise by your oral surgeon or dentist since both can increase the risk of dry sockets (a painful condition caused by exposure of bone beneath the extraction site). Additionally, sucking action from straws can dislodge clots at extraction sites which will slow down healing time and increase discomfort levels significantly after surgery has been completed.
4. Take Pain Medication As Prescribed:
It is normal to feel some level of discomfort when recovering from a wisdom tooth removal procedure; however, if this discomfort becomes too much then it might be necessary to take medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider in order control pain levels effectively throughout recovery period. Be sure not to exceed recommended dosages unless advised otherwise by medical professionals since doing so may result in serious side effects such as stomach ulcers and liver damage over time.
5. Soft Foods Only:
For about 2 weeks after having a wisdom teeth removal procedure performed, it is highly advisable to consume only soft foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, smoothies, etc. while avoiding any solid foods like steak, burgers, chips, etc. during this period because these types of solid foods can easily get stuck within the surgical sites leading to increased levels of inflammation and discomfort eventually.
6. Keep hydrated:
It’s also very important to stay hydrated throughout the recovery process, as dehydration can significantly delay wound healing over time. Ideally, trying to drink 8 glasses of water a day along with consuming healthy juices rich in vitamins and minerals will help speed up the whole recovery process smoothly without experiencing too many setbacks eventually.
7. Practice good oral hygiene:
Lastly, always brush your teeth twice a day, and floss once a day even though it is difficult to do so directly around surgical sites just yet due to its sensitivity – but still try to keep the rest of your mouth clean and free of bacteria to prevent infection from spreading inside the mouth eventually. Doing so will ultimately reduce the chances of developing conditions like gingivitis, and plaque buildup over time drastically giving perfect reason to smile confidently once again soon enough!