Oral Care Tips to Follow After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

There are many reasons that your dentist may recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed, including overcrowding, cavities, infection, and other concerns for your dental health. An oral surgeon will typically perform the extraction, and the recovery process can vary greatly from person to person. If you take certain precautions and steps to aid the recovery, however, it doesn’t have to be a painful or miserable experience. While some swelling, discomfort, and bleeding are normal, read on for tips to follow in order to make recovery go as smoothly as possible. Of course, preparing before you have your wisdom teeth out will certainly help, so make sure you have time scheduled off for your recovery, ask for specifics where family dental care in Houston, TX, are concerned, and have any necessary supplies and food on hand before you go in for your extraction.

Actual Rest

Many people intend to rest and recover after surgery but, in reality, don’t actually allow their bodies to rest. They try to clean their homes, prepare meals for their families, return to work, chat on the phone for hours, and basically resume their typical daily activities. Although everyone is different, most people need a few days of true rest in order for their body systems to fully recuperate and heal.

Range of Motion

While resting your body and mouth are important, it is also important to gently open your mouth every once in a while in order to deal with the stiffness and ensure your jaw returns to its normal range of motion. Gradually increase how wide you open your jaw to ease into it.

Keep Things Clean and Soft

It is vitally important to keep your mouth clean and to avoid sharp or pointy foods (like chips) during the first few days of recovery. Liquid foods, pudding, applesauce, yogurt, and other soft foods can be introduced during recovery. Avoid using straws, since the sucking motion can cause damage to your healing mouth. You should also avoid hot or spicy foods, since they can be irritating to the wounds. After eating or drinking, rinse your mouth with a salt water solution to keep things clean and bacteria free.

Watch Your Bleeding

Using the gauze as instructed by your oral surgeon, bite down to help with the bleeding. After 12 hours, you can also use a damp tea bag in place of the gauze to help with bleeding and healing. Monitor your pain levels, bleeding, and other symptoms, being mindful of the instructions given to you by your surgeon. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, and your expert in family dental care in Houston, TX, can help alleviate any concerns you may have about your recovery.