While you may feel less than thrilled about having your wisdom teeth removed, your parents are right: winter break is a great time to have this common procedure done, as you won’t have to miss school during your recovery. Whilst you may miss out on some of the winter fun, you won’t have to miss out on anything in the future because of the damage wisdom teeth can cause!
Why You Should Schedule A Winter Wisdom Teeth Removal!
Wisdom Teeth Removal is an important step in the oral health of a young adult. Not only does it prevent issues like teeth crowding and damage, having your wisdom teeth removed can even reduce the likelihood of chronic pain caused by teeth and nerve damage. This simple but intense procedure sucks at the moment but truly helps your long-term health in more ways than you could ever imagine!
Here at Lane Oral Surgery, we understand that the idea of having your wisdom teeth removed may bring up some anxieties in you – that is perfectly normal. We want you to know that we promise to keep you safe and pain-free throughout the procedure with a variety of anesthesia options available to you depending on your needs. So let us take care of the surgery so that you can focus on your recovery.
Despite our best efforts, there are still some possibilities of potential complications after the procedure. These complications include dry sockets, pain, swelling, limited mouth functionality, excessive bleeding, and lip numbness. That being said, many of these can be reduced or avoided altogether with some simple things you can do at home after the procedure!
Here Are Some Steps You Can Take To Ensure A Speedy Recovery!
What To Do:
- Drink plenty of liquids (NO straws though please). Soups and broths are great, as are non-acidic juices and water.
- Treat yourself! This is a great time to indulge in your favorite (soft) foods like ice cream, pudding, yogurt, and Jell-O. Maintain this soft-only diet (plus liquids) for 24 hours following your procedure.
- Gradually add foods back into your diet, as soon as you feel ready.
- A great progression of foods looks something like this:
- Broths and Juices
- Hot (warm) chocolate with whipped cream
- Yogurt, pudding, Jell-O
- Mashed potatoes
- Eggs
- Pancakes – (softened with syrup, of course)
- Mac ‘n cheese
- Get plenty of sleep and relax. Watch your favorite movies and take naps when you feel sleepy. This is an intense procedure, your body needs rest to heal.
- Take your medications as we have prescribed. During the first 24 hours, in particular, be sure to take medications at suggested times in order to stay one step ahead of the pain.
- A great progression of foods looks something like this:
- If you are having lots of bleeding, you can consider using tea bags or gauze pads to help soak up the extra blood (please note that bleeding should slow down and cease within 24 hours after the procedure.
What Not To Do:
- Don’t use straws – This loosens stitches and blood clots, causing a painful condition called “dry socket”.
- Don’t drink soda – The bubbles also interfere with blood clots and increase your risk of dry socket.
- Don’t eat crunchy foods like chips, popcorn, or nuts as they may get stuck in your extraction site.
- Don’t mess with the sutures with your tongue, this could loosen them and cause extra bleeding.
Helping You Through The Whole Process!
Missing out on one winter break of fun surely is worth having less stress throughout your lifetime. That being said, if you are still feeling unsure about an upcoming wisdom teeth appointment, contact us and schedule your next appointment today!
Dr. William F. Lane is proud to have served countless patients through their wisdom teeth removals and is ready and willing to help with yours at our Plymouth, MA or Sandwich, Massachusetts locations!
We have plenty of examples and techniques which will hopefully set your mind at ease. Consider cozying up and taking time to do what’s best for your health over this holiday break season. And parents, if you haven’t scheduled your teen’s procedure yet, give us a call to take advantage of one of our winter-break appointments!
References
- Wisdom Teeth, Mouth Healthy and ADA, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/wisdom-teeth
- 5 possible Wisdom Teeth Removal Complications, Colgate, https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/wisdom-teeth/5-possible-wisdom-teeth-removal-complications
