Dos and Don'ts After Wisdom Teeth Removal

When undergoing any medical intervention, it is crucial to prepare beforehand for your recovery post-treatment. The stakes are higher when surgery is part of your treatment protocol. Preparing before you go in for wisdom tooth removal near you is equally as important as the procedure itself. The recovery period plays a significant role in the success or failure of the treatment.

What Is Wisdom Teeth Removal?

It is a dental protocol in dentistry that permanently removes wisdom teeth from your mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt in an adult human mouth. They are four teeth, usually growing at the furthest corners of the jawbone between ages 16 and 25.

Why Would a Dentist Recommend Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Wisdom tooth extraction in Spring is not a procedure that your dentist will recommend always. It takes a comprehensive dental exam to determine reasonable grounds for any tooth extraction procedure. Your dentist in Spring, TX, will recommend removing one or more of your wisdom teeth under the following conditions:

1. Severe tooth decay – wisdom teeth can acquire dental cavities more easily than other teeth because they are hard to reach during dental hygiene routines. Over time, your wisdom teeth may be extensively decayed, and the best course of action is tooth extraction.
2. Risk of infection – sometimes, a dentist can recommend removing a tooth if it faces a high risk of infection. Besides, wisdom teeth can increase the probability of infecting the adjacent teeth, greatly compromising your oral health.
3. Overcrowding – sometimes, your jawbone’s size is insufficient to fit in four new teeth. Instead, your dentist can recommend removing your wisdom teeth early before they cause overcrowding or other orthodontics oral problems.
4. Impacted teeth – are teeth that erupt improperly, remaining partially or fully stuck underneath your gums. Such teeth can cause swelling, tenderness, redness, and pain in your gums and jawbone.

What Should You Expect During Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

At Charm Dental Spring, the first step during an extraction procedure is to numb your mouth with local anesthesia. It ensures you will not be in pain or significant discomfort during the extraction surgery. Other than that, we like to administer sedation dentistry to calm your nerves and promote relaxation for your brain and body.

The next step entails tooth removal. Since these last molars are usually stubborn and problematic, hardly are wisdom teeth easy to remove. Therefore, the dentist is unlikely to perform a simple tooth extraction. Instead, (s)he will cut open the gums, exposing the bone underneath that is blocking the tooth. At this point, the dentist can pull out the tooth for a while or break it into small pieces for easy extraction.

After removing the tooth, your dentist will disinfect the site before sewing the gums back into place. (S)he will then place gauze over the wound to control the bleeding and allow blood clot formation.

How to Ease Your Recovery After Wisdom Tooth Removal

Once your treatment is complete, you may not feel any pain, soreness, or discomfort until the numbing wears off. Therefore, we will offer you several tips to help you ease your recovery period with very little discomfort.

Dos:

1. Keep the gauze in place until the bleeding stops. You may need to replace it every 30 or 60 minutes to keep the area sanitized.
2. Take your pain medication. Your attending dentist will prescribe some medicine to help alleviate pain and swelling, especially during the first 72 hours of recovery.
3. Cold compress – to relieve pain and swelling. Wrap an ice bag with a cloth before placing it. Take breaks between 5-10 minutes of compressions.
4. Keep your head elevated, especially when sleeping. It disallows blood-pooling in your head, aggravating the bleeding and pain.
5. Eat soft foods only. Do not skip your meals because your body needs the energy and nutrients to concentrate on healing well. Besides, soft foods are the only way to ensure you eat healthily without aggravating the extraction wound.

Don’ts:

1. Eat immediately after your treatment. If your mouth is still numb, you risk hurting yourself when eating.
2. Dislodge the blood clot on the extraction site. Resist any urge to keep sticking your tongue in the wound.
3. Eat hot foods as they may cause burns.
4. Use straws to drink fluids. They introduce dry air into your mouth that may worsen the pain at the extraction site.
5. Over-exert yourself with physical activity. Instead, focus on intentional and intense resting, allowing your body to concentrate on healing only.