Children expect to lose their teeth and get a visit from the tooth fairy. As you age, wisdom tooth extraction is not quite as exciting. Still, removing these teeth may be crucial to your future dental health. If you’re worried about how you’ll recover from this oral surgery, use the following guide to prepare.

A Guide to Wisdom Teeth Extraction Recovery

1. Wounds

After your wisdom teeth are pulled, a blood clot must form over the incision site. If it doesn’t, you’ll experience dry socket, a painful condition during which bone and nerve endings are exposed.

For the blood to clot, your oral surgeon will insert gauze rolls into your mouth. Keep biting down on these for the first few hours after your surgery, and replace them every 30 minutes. Once the bleeding stops and the clot forms, you can remove them.

2. Diet

To prevent uprooting the protective blood clot, don’t use a straw for a few days. It’s still crucial to maintain a steady intake of fluids, such as water and juice.

Avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, and hot, caffeinated beverages for the first few days.

Stick to soft foods like soups, smoothies, and applesauce for 24 hours after surgery. Then, move onto softer solids like pasta and oatmeal, and avoid using your rear teeth to chew.

3. Hygiene

Just like any surgical procedure, you’ll want to be gentle with your mouth after a wisdom tooth extraction. Therefore, avoid spitting, rinsing, or rapid brushing for 24 hours after your surgery. You can start with gentle brushing the day after the extraction, but use a minimal amount of toothpaste.

After eating, rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours to prevent an infection. If you use a water flosser, put it away for at least a week after surgery. You can use regular floss, but avoid flossing at the incision site.

If you’re ready to schedule your wisdom tooth extraction, get in touch with Brian W. Charles, DMD of McCall, ID. He has over 30 years of experience catering to area patients. As a family dentist, he deals with several treatments for patients of all ages. Whether you’re looking for a whitening solution or oral surgery, contact this trusted dentist at (208) 634-7653 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit the website to learn more about his services.