Wisdom Teeth Removal: Speed Up the Recovery With These Tips
If you’re one of the millions who will be having their wisdom teeth removed this year, you’re probably wondering what you can do to speed up the recovery process. Recovery time varies from person to person, but there are a few things you can do to help minimize your downtime. But what else should you try? And that’s what we’re about to share with you today. Read on, and you’ll find out just how you can get a speedy recovery from wisdom teeth removal surgery.
Go Easy on Your Diet and How You Eat
After your surgery, you’ll have pretty big gaps in your mouth where your teeth used to be. This can make it difficult to eat solid foods, and that’s why it’s essential to stick to a soft diet in the days immediately following your procedure. Soup, mashed potatoes, eggs, and yogurt are all excellent options. You should also avoid crunchy or hard foods like chips, pretzels, nuts, and sticky foods like caramel or gum. And while you’re at it, try to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day instead of three large ones.
Take Your Meds
Skipping your pain medication is not going to make the recovery process any faster. In fact, it’s only going to make it more painful. So be sure to take your meds as prescribed, and don’t be afraid to ask for more if you’re still in a lot of discomforts. Your dentist will also likely prescribe you an antibiotic to help prevent infection, so make sure you finish the entire course even if you’re feeling better.
Keep Your Oral Hygiene on Point
Another thing to remember is that you need to keep harmful bacteria at bay to avoid infection. So be sure to brush your teeth twice daily and use an alcohol-free mouthwash. Also, it’s a must to clean the surrounding teeth and gums where your wisdom teeth used to be. A water flosser can help with this, but you can also use a regular floss and go slowly and carefully. You should also avoid smoking, as it can delay healing and increase your risk of infection.
Make Friend With Ice
Things will be pretty swollen after your surgery, and that’s why ice is your new best friend. Applying a cold compress to your face can help reduce swelling and pain. Just wrap the ice in a towel, so you don’t damage your skin. You should also avoid using a heating pad, as this can worsen the swelling. As you can see, you can do a few things to speed up your recovery from wisdom teeth removal. Remember to take it easy, stay on top of your oral hygiene, and don’t smoke. Aside from that, don’t forget your regular appointment with your favorite dentist. Your dentist needs to monitor the progress.
