Do's and Don'ts After Wisdom Teeth Removal

For a few lucky ones, wisdom teeth don't cause any problems when they erupt. In fact, it's estimated that about one-third of people are born without any wisdom teeth at all. That's because these third molars are vestigial structures, meaning that they were useful to use thousands of years ago when our diet consisted of mostly raw meat and twigs. However, nowadays, wisdom teeth can create more trouble than they are helpful to us. 

That's because a lot of the time, wisdom teeth don't have enough space to erupt, so they push the other teeth away, leading to misalignment issues. They can also get stuck while erupting, causing an infection and a lot of pain. 

That's why most dentists will recommend extraction. 

If you just had your wisdom teeth removed in Baltimore, you may wonder if there are any precautions that you should take to help the healing process.

Here are some tips. 

What to Do After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

After you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, you can do a few things to help you through the healing process:

• Take a couple of days to rest and relax 
• Keep your head elevated to reduce the swelling 
• Use an ice pack for the first 2 days to help with swelling. Use it for approximately 15 minutes, and then take a break. You can repeat the process a few times, but do not keep the ice pack for too long
• Bite on a cotton gauze to reduce bleeding and help with the formation of the blood clot
• Use salt water to rinse your mouth and keep it clean
• Eat soft foods 
• Stay hydrated
• Stretch your jaw by doing gentle exercises 
• Take OTC pain medication to help with the discomfort 

What Not to Do After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Avoiding certain habits and actions is just as important for the healing period. 

• Start eating when the anesthesia wears off to avoid injuries 
• Do not use a straw to drink water, coffee, or other liquids
• Do not spit either as it can affect the formation of the blood clot and lead to complications such as a dry socket
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol 
• Avoid eating hard, solid foods that can strain your jaw or get stuck in the extraction site
• Do not clean your mouth with rough, vigorous movements 

Are Your Wisdom Teeth Bothering You? 

If your wisdom teeth are creating some pain or discomfort, then it may be better to have them removed. At Waterfront Dental, we can help you with that. 

Wisdom tooth removal is quite a simple procedure and we promise that we won't keep you in the dentist's chair for more than a few minutes. We will also provide a long list of instructions that will help you get better in no time. 

If you want to meet us, get in touch and book an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Dawn Merguerian.