How Can I Make My Wisdom Teeth Heal Faster?

There are many reasons why your dentist would recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed, including cavities, overcrowding, infection and disease. Before going through the procedure, it is important that you talk to your doctor or oral surgeon and get all your questions answered. After the surgery, it is normal to experience some amount of discomfort, swelling and pain. Below are tips to help make the healing process go as quickly and smoothly as possible.

• Plan ahead. Prior to your surgery, prepare for your recovery. Talk to the dentist or surgeon about what to expect, and ask for a list of guidelines to follow before the surgery. It also helps to schedule your surgery at a time when you have a few days off to give time for recovery. You might have to ask someone to drive you after the procedure, or spend the rest of the day with you.
• Watch what you eat. Immediately after the procedure, stick to a diet that consists of liquids. Gradually, you can slowly add solid foods, starting with softer ones like pudding. Never use straws, and avoid hot and spicy foods as well.
• Rest as much as you can. You might want to rush to get back to your normal daily routines after the surgery, but taking things slowly is very crucial to ensure your long-term recovery. Give yourself a lot of time to relax and elevate your head with a few pillows. Never exercise for at least a day; wait for a few more days before you do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise.
• Open your mouth. Expect some stiffness in your mouth after surgery, which might discourage you from opening your mouth. However, it is actually important that you to prevent the stiffness from being permanent. The first time that you open your mouth after the procedure, do it gently and slowly.
• Rinse with salt and water. The day following your wisdom tooth removal surgery, make a mouth rinse from a mixture of salt and warm water. Rinse using this concoction a few times a day to reduce pain and swelling, especially after drinking or eating.
• Control bleeding with tea bags and gauze. After the surgery, your oral surgeon will tell you gently bite down on a piece of gauze to reduce swelling. After 12 hours, switch to a damp tea bag. The tea leaves can help in reducing pain and encouraging clotting.
• Listen to your oral surgeon. Your oral surgeon might give you additional instructions that are not listed above. Always listen and follow their instructions to make healing from wisdom tooth extraction as quickly as possible.

Just like any kind of surgery, wisdom tooth extraction also has its risks. Fortunately, you can greatly decrease these risks and give you a quick and smooth healing process. You just have to follow the tips above and any other instructions your oral surgeon might give you for a seamless recovery. Do not hesitate to talk to your dentist if you have any more questions.