Wisdom teeth aftercare is important for relieving pain and swelling after wisdom teeth removal. The procedure can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, but many simple home remedies can help reduce discomfort. Here are some tips for alleviating pain and swelling associated with wisdom teeth extraction.
What Causes Pain and Swelling After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Having your wisdom teeth removed requires cutting through tissue, muscle, and bone. This trauma causes inflammation and irritation in the area surrounding the extraction site. This leads to pain and discomfort lasting anywhere from a few days to several weeks after the procedure. In addition, post-operative swelling may occur due to fluid buildup in the area of the surgery.
Managing Pain With Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with wisdom tooth extraction. It’s important to follow package directions carefully when using these medications, as they may cause side effects if not taken properly. Additionally, discussing any over-the-counter medication usage plans with your doctor before proceeding with treatment at home is always best.
Using Ice Packs To Reduce Swelling
Ice packs are an effective way to reduce swelling around the surgical site following wisdom teeth removal. Applying an ice pack for 20 minutes every few hours during the first 48 hours after surgery can help greatly reduce inflammation in the area while providing temporary relief from any discomfort caused by swollen tissue near the extraction site. It’s also important to keep your head elevated while recovering; this is especially true if you’re experiencing facial swelling due to your surgery!
Taking Care Of Your Mouth During Recovery
It would be best if you took proper care of your mouth during recovery time following wisdom tooth removal in order to prevent infections or other complications from developing in the area surrounding your gums where surgery was performed. Be sure that you rinse your mouth gently twice a day using warm salt water—this will help rid any areas of bacteria that could otherwise lead to infection down the line! Additionally, avoid brushing around and/or putting direct pressure on extracted sites until fully healed; this will ensure quick healing without causing additional discomfort or delaying progress!
Eating Soft Foods And Staying Hydrated
Soft foods such as mashed potatoes or oatmeal are ideal for those recovering from wisdom tooth removal as they require minimal chewing, yet still provide essential nutrients needed for healing! In addition, drinking plenty of fluids throughout the recovery period will help to maintain adequate hydration levels, which will help to speed up the overall healing process! Whilst it is recommended to avoid straws (as sucking on them has been known to delay healing), sipping clear liquids such as broth or tea throughout the day should be sufficient to achieve optimal hydration levels!
Seek professional treatment for further help
If symptoms persist beyond two weeks after surgery, despite following all of the above instructions (as well as those given by your healthcare professional at the time of your appointment), it may be necessary to seek professional treatment in order to make a full recovery! In such cases, it’s best to visit either your GP or the oral surgeon who performed the previous operation so that any potential problems leading to delayed healing can be identified & addressed accordingly including the possibility of infection, which would then require antibiotics to be prescribed in order to resolve the problem quickly & effectively! This will allow the patient to access the necessary resources required to achieve the desired outcome; allowing him/her to return to normalcy quicker than if left untreated initially!
