3 Things To Know Before Your Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist are important tasks to protect the look and health of your smile. Unfortunately, certain conditions may still develop even after following recommendations by your dentist. Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that erupt in the back of the mouth. For many people, they do not cause any issues. However, wisdom teeth grow close to surrounding teeth, increasing the risk of overcrowding, cavities, infections, and pain. Due to this risk, many dentists recommend extracting wisdom teeth. Here are a few things to know before the extraction of your wisdom teeth.
Go Grocery Shopping
You most likely will not feel like eating, but a healthy diet is imperative for healing after extracting your wisdom teeth. Make sure to stock up on liquids and soft foods that you will be able to consume after the extraction.
Yogurt, applesauce, soup, smoothies, and oatmeal are all great options to eat after having your wisdom teeth removed. Not only are these foods soft and easy to chew, but they are also rich in important vitamins and minerals. If you do not have any appetite, you must still drink fluids. Water and sports drinks are good options that will keep you hydrated.
Bring a Friend or Family Member
In most cases, you will not need a driver to ensure you get home safe after a dentist appointment. However, wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia. You will feel a great deal of fatigue, discomfort, and disorientation after your surgical procedure, which will reduce your ability to speak, think, and drive.
Make sure to ask a friend or family member if they can accompany you to your dentist appointment. Not only will this person be able to drive you home after the procedure, but they will also provide you with a sense of comfort after waking from your surgery.
Skip Brushing For a Day
You may have the urge to brush and rinse your teeth after your extraction, but this can become problematic.
Brushing and rinsing your teeth can irritate the incision site, loosening the stitches in your gums, and dislodging the clot and causing a dry socket. Dry sockets are painful conditions that may develop within 3 days after a tooth extraction.
Dry socket pain can spread from the incision site up into the face and head. In many instances, the loss of the blood clot will increase your risk of an infection, as well.
Painful, problematic wisdom teeth are common, so the benefits of an extraction are easy to see. With the help of this guide and your wisdom teeth oral surgeon, you can prepare for the extraction of your wisdom teeth.