If your wisdom teeth have become impacted, then they probably aren’t growing in the right way. This is causing you pain, pressure, irritation, and a whole slew of dental issues that will only get worse over time. Your dentist can perform a short surgical procedure that removes the wisdom teeth from your mouth, giving your existing molars a lot more space to spread out. Below we cover 5 tips to improve recovery after wisdom teeth removal.
5 Tips to Improve Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth surgery is common, but there are still several steps you should follow to ensure a smooth recovery. Below, your Irvine restorative dentistry office will list 5 tips to improve recovery after wisdom teeth removal in our Orange County office.
Stay Elevated
Due to the amount of pain and bleeding you may experience, it is a good idea to keep your head elevated in the first initial days of recovery. Make sure your body can comfortably support your head, which should be at a 45-degree angle for at least three days. A good rule of thumb is to always make sure your head is above your feet to prevent bodily swelling.
Rinse Your Mouth Often
Your dentist may instruct you to rinse and flush your mouth out as often as you can. For the first few days, you should try to rinse your mouth with warm (but not hot) salt water at least two times throughout the day. This can help keep your wounds clean, promoting faster healing while keeping harmful bacteria at bay.
Prevent Dry Mouth
It is totally normal to feel a bit of pain, discomfort, and soreness in the days following your wisdom tooth removal surgery. It might be difficult to keep your mouth closed, resulting in you breathing out of your mouth rather than your nose. This can cause your mouth to dry out, inviting bacteria to rapidly grow in the sockets that are still healing from the procedure. If you are worried that your sockets are getting dry, you can invest in Biotene gel created specifically to prevent dry mouth.
Try Coconut Water
Did you know that coconut water can both slake your thirst and your hunger? It is full of electrolytes, which is a great source of energy when you can’t manage to eat solid food. Coconut water can also reduce symptoms of inflammation and pain, which speeds up the healing process. Your dentist may even recommend that you drink it cold in order to receive the best effects.
Use Lots of Ice
You are likely to experience some pain for a few days following your procedure. The best way to reduce pain and swelling is by putting ice packs on the outside of your cheeks until the pain subsides. This is a great way to relieve pain in your jaw without directly touching the open wound. Try to keep your mouth closed as often as you can, especially while using ice packs. By relaxing your jaw, you are speeding up the recovery process.
Invest in Professional Wisdom Tooth Removal Today
At our Irvine restorative dentistry office, we provide a number of advanced solutions for the treatment of impacted wisdom teeth. You or your young loved one may be dealing with soreness and pain that stems from emerging wisdom teeth. Through surgical removal, you can open up your jaw and prevent overcrowding. This helps you avoid a myriad of oral health issues down the line, setting you up for a bright future and an even brighter smile.
Learn more about wisdom teeth removal and see if you qualify as a candidate when you reach out to OCSI dentistry and make an appointment today.