Although impacted wisdom teeth removal is a common dental procedure for teens and young adults, it is still surgery and requires post-operative care. Following your dentist’s aftercare instructions, including what to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed and pain management, can ensure a speedy recovery helping the surgical site heal faster.
Post-Op Instructions After Wisdom Teeth Removal
- Keep the gauze pad in place for 30 minutes to help the blood clot form
- Avoid mouth rinsing, spitting or touching the wound
- Begin taking medications prescribed by your dentist
- Restrict your activities for the first 24 hours and rest with your head elevated
What to Do About Bleeding After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Some minor bleeding after wisdom tooth extractions is normal, so don’t be alarmed if you see traces of blood in your saliva. If the extraction site is still bleeding once you remove the gauze pad, you can place a moistened tea bag on the wound for 30 minutes. The tannic acid from the teabag contracts the blood vessels and helps a clot form.
How to Alleviate Pain After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
If you have been prescribed a pain reliever after wisdom teeth removal, take it before the anaesthesia wears off.
An over-the-counter pain reliever can also reduce inflammation after wisdom tooth extractions. However, do not take aspirin because it thins the blood and inhibits blood clotting at the site.
Discomfort typically peaks at around day three before subsiding.
How to Reduce Swelling After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
The amount of swelling you experience after wisdom teeth removal is proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the eyes, cheeks, mouth and face are not uncommon after wisdom teeth removal. To minimise swelling, use an icepack on your face intermittently for 20 minutes at a time for the first 24 hours, but expect the swelling to reach its maximum at around day three post-surgery.
What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removed?
With all the side effects of wisdom teeth removal, food may be the last thing on your mind, but it is important that you eat and drink for a speedier recovery. Immediately following your wisdom tooth extractions drink plenty of fluids, but avoid using a straw because it can disturb the blood clot, resulting in a painful secondary condition called dry socket.
For the first 24 hours, consume a liquid diet of yoghurt, lukewarm soup or broth, smoothies and milkshakes. Ice cream, sorbet and jelly are also good options because they can help alleviate discomfort and swelling.
As the discomfort subsides, try a soft food diet like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pasta, mashed avocado, hummus and soft bread, cottage cheese, pancakes, flakey fish or anything else you can cut with a fork.
As you begin chewing again after wisdom tooth extractions, add in easy to chew and swallow foods. They can be mashed, chopped or minced and even covered in a sauce or gravy to make swallowing easier.
A well-balanced and nutritious diet can minimise the risk of wisdom teeth removal complications. When deciding what to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed, remember the foods you choose can also reduce swelling and aid in the wound-healing process.
Contact Dapto Dentists
If you are unsure about what to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed, consult a dentist at our practice for advice. At Dapto Dentists, your oral health is our priority.
Call us now on (02) 4210 9058.
