A Wisdom Tooth Removal Recovery Guide

What Should you Eat After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

For the first three to five days you should stick to liquids and soft foods. Ideal foods to eat include soups, broths, rice, mashed potatoes, jello, pudding, yogurt and ice cream. During the first week the extraction site will be sore and vulnerable to infection so it is important to avoid certain foods. Steer clear of any hard, crunchy and spicy foods as these may be painful to eat and cause irritation and complications with the healing process. It might be best to avoid certain snack foods such as chips, nuts or popcorn because they can get stuck in the extraction site and disrupt the healing process. Whilst it might seem that drinking through a straw is the safest option to protect the extraction site, this method of drinking should actually be avoided because the suction can dislodge blood clots from the gum which would delay healing and be painful.

Expected Symptoms

Following your wisdom teeth removal it is expected and normal to have some physical reactions during the healing process. Your mouth and cheeks might swell up, this will be worse for the first few days but should gradually improve with time.Your jaw might be stiff and sore and harder to open than normal. Sometimes the cheeks will also have some mild visible bruising. Holding a cold compress to the face can help with pain management and reduce swelling. As the extraction sites heal it can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth but this is normal and will lessen as the site heals.

Post Surgery Self Care

In the 24 hours following the surgery avoid rinsing, spitting, hot drinks, solid food and anything that has potential to dislodge the blood clots that form in the extraction site. Smoking and alcohol can also disrupt the healing process so these should be avoided for 24 hours at a minimum but ideally for a few days. For the first few days, rest as much as you can and avoid strenuous activity and heavy exercise. Take medications such as pain relievers and antibiotics as prescribed. It is usually recommended to take a day or two off work or school following the surgery, however if you have a physically demanding job that requires heavy lifting or physical labor you may need to take a few extra days off work. If local anesthetic was used in the surgery then it is okay to drive immediately following the procedure but if general anesthetic was used then driving and operating heavy machinery should be avoided for 24 to 48 hours. Brush your teeth normally but make sure you avoid the extraction sites with the toothbrush. The extraction sites can be cleaned by gently soaking them mouthwash but do not swish too vigorously as this will dislodge the blood clots.

Potential Complications

The most common risk of wisdom tooth extraction is dry socket. This is where a blood clot does not develop in the extraction site or if the blood clot is dislodged. It can cause an intense toothache like pain in the empty socket and jaw. The blood clot can be dislodged from the socket for up to 3-5 days post surgery so it is very important to follow dentist instructions during this period to minimize the risk. If you are experiencing worsening discomfort and swelling after 3 days post extraction then this might be an indicator that you have an infection. An infection sometimes has symptoms such as yellow pus from the socket or you might feel ill or develop a fever. Infections can be prevented by keeping your mouth clean and continuing to brush the surrounding teeth and gently using mouthwash to swill around the extraction sites. If you suspect you are having complications following your surgery then contact your dentist.

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