One of the body changes that most people go through around the ages of 17 to 21 is developing wisdom teeth. These four permanent adult teeth are also known as your third molars and often found in the back corners of your mouth. But for most people, these teeth require to be removed as there is often not enough space to grow in your gums. It becomes impacted, creating complications and affecting the rest of your teeth.
For that reason, most dentists will require you to undergo surgery to extract your third molars. The healing process for any dental procedure will take time, and for this operation, it may take around three days to two weeks. So, to help you with your wisdom teeth removal recovery, listed below are some tips you should follow.
Use Cold Compress
In the first few days after your surgery, you can expect pain and swelling in your gums. One thing you can do to reduce discomfort is to use a cold compress or an ice pack. You can press it against the area of your cheek that’s near the extraction site.
Eat Only Soft Food
As mentioned, your gums will feel sore and tender post-surgery. But because of that, it’s important to eat only soft food to avoid pain while chewing them. At the same time, hard food like chips, nuts, and seeds can also get stuck in the extraction site, which can lead to infection. Some examples of soft food that you can consume are:
- Mashed potatoes
- Smoothies
- Cottage cheese
- Apple sauce
- Soup
- Pudding
Drink More Water
Hydration is also important in your recovery because water helps carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells. If your body is dehydrated, the healing process becomes delayed due to a decrease in oxygen and nutrients being delivered.
The amount of water each individual should take may vary depending on their current health condition. But a report by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has stated that an average adult male should take at least 3.7 liters of fluids per day, while an adult female should drink about 2.7 liters of fluids daily.
Speak With Your Dentist
These are only some tips you can follow to achieve proper wisdom teeth removal recovery after your surgery. But if you have any other questions about wisdom tooth extraction, you may speak with our dental specialists at Aegis Dental Group or Angola Dental Center. Reach out to one of our offices in Angola, Goshen, and Warsaw to learn more about our services.