Many people will eventually have their wisdom teeth extracted. There's a small percentage of people who don't, but wisdom tooth extraction is a common experience for Americans. It's a procedure performed by dentists and oral surgeons and may be prompted by pain from a patient or an x-ray.
After surgery, it will take most people about a week to recover, but good aftercare may speed up the process. In this post, we'll share some of our best tips to ensure you have a speedy recovery from your procedure.
Address swelling with ice at first
After surgery, your gums may be swollen for a few days. To minimize pain and swelling, press an ice pack on your jaw for about 20-30 minutes, remove it for about 20-30 minutes, and repeat. If your swelling lasts more than seven days, make an appointment for your dentist to take a look.
After a few days, minimize swelling with heat
Many dentists recommend using ice to minimize swelling and pain following a wisdom tooth extraction. After a few days, you might consider switching to heat. Warmth can cause blood vessels to become enlarged, which helps carry fluids away from swollen areas. Pick up a heat pack at your local pharmacy, wrap it in a moistened towel, and apply it to the side of your face for 20-30 minutes and then remove it for 20-30 minutes. Repeat.
Dull the throb by sitting up
If you're experiencing pain and a dull throb in the area where your wisdom tooth was removed, try to keep your head above your heart. Instead of lying down, sit up while you're recovering. If you lie down, keep your head elevated with a small stack of pillows.
Stay hydrated
You should definitely increase your fluid intake after surgery. Drink water, but don't use a straw. We recommend no less than 8 glasses of water per day for at least the first few days (but you should drink 8 glasses of water a day for several other health reasons!).
Watch what you eat
You probably won't want to munch a bag of caramel corn right after having your wisdom teeth removed anyway, but do pay close attention to the types of foods you chew on following surgery. Avoid crunchy, sticky, or spicy foods especially while you're experiencing tenderness and inflammation.
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We wish you a safe, healthy, and speedy wisdom tooth extraction recovery! If you enjoy our blog, please drop by and like our Facebook page to see our newest posts.