Healthy Fluids

Wisdom tooth extractions are not as scary as you think. What happens after the surgery is quite normal for any tooth extraction surgery. Here is a preview of what you can expect after a wisdom tooth extraction in Washington DC.

Post-Operation Management

A patient who has undergone a wisdom tooth extraction usually has four primary post-operation concerns: pain, bleeding, bruising, and swelling. Some patients may experience all, while a very small percentage may not experience any difficulty at all. Nevertheless, you should not panic if you experience any of them as dentists normally prescribe medications, and give instructions for managing these concerns.

Pain is relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medicines, whichever is needed, and safe for your condition. Stronger prescription painkillers may be needed for cases involving bone removal.

Bleeding is usually solved by replacing the gauze on the extraction area. Patients prone to gum bleeding are advised to wipe their saliva, or bite on a piece of cloth instead, so as to avoid dislodging the forming blood clot.

Bruising and swelling normally disappear on their own within three days, although bruising can also last for more than a week. To speed up recovery, apply an ice pack over the area for 15 minutes. Swelling that does not seem to subside after three days is often a valid medical concern.

Activities

Since Washington DC wisdom teeth extractions are an outpatient procedure, you are only advised to take a complete rest (preferably by lying down to avoid bleeding) within the day. You can go back to work, and your other regular routines after just 24 hours, but you should try to avoid any strenuous physical activity until the extraction area is completely healed, usually after one week. In particular, activities that require pulling and stretching should be avoided. Running and jogging are also known to induce gum bleeding, so opt for brisk walking instead.

Avoid drinking beverages containing caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours as they can interfere with the healing process. Drinks that are too cold or too hot should also be avoided until you no longer feel any pain because they are known to trigger pain attacks. As much as possible, stay away from drinking straws as sucking can remove the forming blood clots in your gum tissue. With that in mind, remember that smoking also poses the same threat.

Avoid eating solid foods, both hard and gummy, until 24 hours later, although you can maintain a semi-solid diet for a week, if you are not comfortable when chewing and biting. Any foods that may stick between your teeth, and have spicy flavors should also be avoided.

A semi-solid diet normally includes soups, smoothies, yogurts, and oats. Acidic foods may give you discomfort, so avoid adding citrus fruits in your soups and smoothies.