Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area.
Don't drink with a straw, suck on candy or ice pops, slurp soups or other liquids, rinse your mouth vigorously, or smoke for 24 hours. These things create suction in the mouth. This may dislodge the blood clot. Don't drink alcohol or use mouthwash containing alcohol for 24 hours.
Typically, your oral surgeon will ask that you at least take about 48-72 hours to relax afterward so the treatment area is allowed to clot. After that, a patient should be able to return to normal physical activity. The soft tissue will usually fully heal in about 3-4 weeks.
After 2 weeks, your extraction site may still be tender, and it will take up to 4 weeks to heal completely. But for all intents and purposes, your recovery will be complete. You can brush normally, eat whatever you want, and get back to your normal day-to-day routine.
DRINK WATER
Staying hydrated is crucial after any major or minor surgery. Sip on a little more water than your normal daily amount to flush food particles away from the affected area. Drinking fluids following oral surgery will also speed up the healing process and help to prevent conditions like dry socket.
While every patient heals at a slightly different pace, most people can begin drinking small amounts of coffee around 5 days after an extraction. If all goes well, within two weeks any swelling should subside and your mouth should be mostly healed. At that point, you can return to drinking your normal amount of coffee.
To be on the safe side, don't brush or rinse the mouth in the first 24 hours after the tooth extraction procedure. Thereafter, brush with care and don't allow the toothbrush to get close to the extraction site. Also, don't swish water, mouthwash or any oral care fluid in your mouth.
Tip #1: Salt Water Rinse
After a tooth has been removed, it is possible for small particles of food to be lodged in the socket. We recommend a gentle salt water rinse to clean the area that is healing and prevent food from getting caught. The salt water promotes healing and reduces the risk of complications.
The dentist will provide you with temporary immediate dentures as the gum tissue heals. Once the tissues are fully healed, the time is right to add dentures to your mouth. In general, it usually takes between six and eight weeks following the tooth extraction for dentures to be placed. However, each patient is unique.
Bread is typically tough to chew after wisdom tooth removal and you are generally recommended to avoid any foods that could get stuck to your surgery site. Crackers and breads are notorious for getting stuck on teeth and stuck in the mouth and that can only cause trouble post oral surgery.
Dairy contains proteins that can encourage the growth of bacteria and increase the risk of infection. This is because dairy provides an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which can lead to swelling and discomfort in the gums and surrounding area.
Avoid rinsing the mouth, brushing near the extraction site, and eating foods that require chewing for at least 24 hours. Patients usually can resume tooth brushing and flossing on day 2 of recovery, but should refrain from brushing on the extraction site for the first three days to ensure your clot stays in place.
Taking oral vitamin C 600 mg/d over three doses for 10 days after tooth extraction enhances extraction wound healing by reducing mesiodistal extraction wound and reduces postoperative pain.
Use an antiseptic mouth rinse, like Listerine, (chlorhexidine or Peridex™, if prescribed) beginning the evening of the procedure. This will help with bad taste or odor of your healing mouth. The day after surgery you should rinse with Listerine 5 to 10 times a day especially after eating.
What to eat the first 24 hours after tooth extraction: It is usually safest to eat only liquids or soft foods for the first 24 hours. This might include items like yogurt, pudding, soup, applesauce, gelatin, and ice cream without any crunchy pieces.
Both alcohol and carbonated beverages can damage the clot in your extraction site and cause complications, so avoid drinking them for at least four days after your extraction.
After your procedure, focus on drinking lots of water to facilitate healing and stay hydrated. Beverages like Gatorade, Powerade, and Pedialyte can also be great options to help you stay hydrated and heal up quickly.
Aside from applying ice packs on your face and cheeks after the surgery, you should also drink ice cold water. Ice does not just reduce swelling, but the coldness is also a great pain reliever, numbing the area of your mouth that is affected.
Yogurt. Yogurt is a great snack to eat after your wisdom teeth are removed. For one thing, it's completely soft, so you won't have to chew at all. For another, it's a good source of protein and other nutrients that you'll need to help recover after surgery.
Over time, the jaw bone itself begins to recontour, shrink and deteriorate because there are no teeth in the jaw to keep the bone stimulated. This causes dentures to become loose, ill-fitting, painful and dysfunctional.
Wait until the socket has fully healed before drinking tea or coffee. This can take several days or weeks, depending on the extent of the extraction. Drink cold or lukewarm beverages instead of hot ones. Hot beverages can dislodge the blood clot and cause pain and discomfort.
Always sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights after the wisdom tooth extraction surgery. If you struggle to put yourself in that position, get support from a few pillows. Keeping your head elevated at a 45-deg angle while sleeping ensures faster recovery. It also minimizes swelling in the surgical area.