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6 Tips to Ease Your Post-Wisdom-Tooth Surgery Experience
Oct 17, 2019
If you're about to have a wisdom tooth surgery, you may be thinking of all the stories shared by those who have done this surgery before. From the painful experience of being forced to eat only liquids for days, you may start feeling anxious about the whole idea. Fortunately, most of these "horror stories" can easily be addressed. There are some things you can do after surgery to speed up the recovery process and help you feel less pain! Here's how:
1. Maintain the blood clot
Similar to other wounds, the wound left by surgery will immediately start to clot. The clot acts as a barrier to keep the underlying bone and tissue safe.
In some cases, this clot can be dislodged, which causes a condition called "dry socket." If this happens, you' will experience intense pain. It can be displaced for a few reasons, such as merely gargling water. It can also be caused when replacing the gauze provided to you by the dentist after surgery. If you forget to soak the new gauze in water, the clot can stick to it and get pulled out.
2. Keep your mouth moist
Whatever you do, don't breath through your mouth. You may be tempted, but doing so will cause your mouth to dry out. A dry mouth is a haven for bacterial growth, which can cause cavities and infection to thrive in the operated area. However, bring an oral cavity moisturizer just in case you find your mouth going dry.
3. Elevate your head when sleeping
For the first three days after your surgery, make sure that you elevate your head to around a 45-degree angle. By doing this, you reduce your discomfort levels by preventing blood from adding pressure to the wound. In turn, because less blood is rushing into the wounded area, it won't swell as much.
4. Apply ice on the extraction site
For the first day after having your wisdom tooth extracted, make sure to apply ice to the cheek near the operated area. Wrap it in a piece of cloth and use it for only twenty minutes at a time. The cold will help reduce blood flow, which helps reduces swelling and discomfort. Whatever you do, don't apply heat, as this will increase blood rushing into the wound, causing pain.
5. Drink cold coconut water
When talking to others about their experience of having their wisdom tooth removed, they may have told you about their liquid diet. To make sure you don't go insane from not being able to eat food that you like, drink cold coconut water. The cold will help reduce blood flow into the mouth. As for the coconut-aspect, its juice can help you feel satisfied, along with hydrating you thoroughly and giving you electrolytes to improve your recovery time.
6. Massage your jaws
During the operation, your mouth will be held open for a very long time. When the ordeal is over, you may find your mouth cramping up and extremely sore. Relieve yourself of some pain by gently massaging your jaws, particularly in the area right below your ear. By massaging this area of your mouth, you relieve it of tension and help quicken the recovery process.
By keeping these tips in mind and putting them into action, you can relieve yourself from a world of pain during the recovery process. With proper preparation, you can be sure that you're fully ready to have your wisdom teeth removed!
If you are looking to having any surgical wisdom extraction in Mississauga,
get in touch with DAAS Dentistry to see how we can help!
Dr. Ehab Daas
Meet your doctor
Dr. Ehab is a passionate dentist with 15 years of dental experience. He received his D.D.S in 1997, and has practiced dentistry for 6 years since then. Immediately after that, Dr. Da'as moved to Paris to get his Orthodontics and Prosthodontic diploma's in which he specialized in fixed bridges and crowns. He graduated from France with remarkable achievements in 2005, and went on to work for 9 years, focusing on difficult orthodontics cases and satisfying his ortho patients. Dr. Ehab moved to Canada in 2014 to continue his career, where he is proud and extremely honoured to provide his patients with the highest quality service.
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