Wisdom teeth removal is a common dental procedure, but sometimes the process can leave you with an infection. It’s important to know how to recognize and treat a post-extraction infection so that you can get back on the road to recovery quickly. Here are some tips for proper wisdom teeth aftercare so that your mouth heals properly.
1. Recognizing Signs of Infection
The most common symptom of an infection after wisdom tooth extraction is pain or tenderness around the area where the tooth was removed. Swelling, redness, bleeding, and bad breath are also signs of an infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to call your dentist right away so they can diagnose the problem and provide treatment.
2. Antibiotics for Treatment
If you do have an infection, your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to help clear it up. Make sure that you take all of the antibiotics as directed by your dentist and finish them even if you start feeling better before you run out; otherwise, the infection may not be fully treated. You should also avoid alcohol while taking antibiotics as this can interfere with their effectiveness.
3. Proper Oral Hygiene Habits
Proper oral hygiene habits can help reduce your risk of getting an infection in the first place, but they’re especially important during wisdom teeth aftercare when infections are more likely to occur due to open wounds in your mouth from surgery sites. This means brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing gently at least once per day using waxed dental floss or tape designed specifically for this purpose. Additionally, make sure that you rinse with antiseptic mouthwash two times per day as well as after meals if possible for extra protection against harmful bacteria in your mouth.
4 . Avoid Certain Foods
It would be best to try to avoid hard and crunchy foods such as crisps or popcorn while you are recovering from wisdom teeth extraction, as these could damage the healing site or dislodge a clot, which could lead to further complications such as a dry socket or infection later on. Instead, stick to softer foods such as mashed potatoes or yogurt until your wounds have healed sufficiently for harder foods; if you are unsure, ask your doctor which foods are safe to eat in your individual condition.
5. Cold compresses can help reduce swelling
Following a wisdom teeth extraction, there is likely to be some swelling in both your gums and cheeks, which is normal; however, applying cold compresses regularly during the course of recovery will help to reduce inflammation quickly, bringing much-needed relief from the discomfort associated with swelling. Simply soak a washcloth in cold water, wring out the excess liquid, then apply the compress directly to the affected area and hold briefly until the soreness subsides. Repeat the process 3 – 4 times a day, alternating between hot & cold compresses for optimal results.
6. Home remedies to relieve discomfort
There are several home remedies one can safely use at home to manage pain & discomfort associated with wisdom teeth removal; these include using salt water rinses, clove oil & aloe vera juice just a few natural options available depending on preference; ask the doctor about other potential remedies if interested!
7. Get plenty of rest
Getting plenty of rest during recovery is vital to ensure the wound healing process goes smoothly; in addition, avoiding strenuous activities until ok’d by the doctor helps speed up the rate at which the body recovers, preventing prolonged periods spent suffering from pain & discomfort associated with surgical procedures such as wisdom teeth removal.
8. Follow up with the doctor for check-ups
Finally, following up with regularly scheduled checkups allows the healthcare provider to monitor progress and ensure that no complications have arisen since the last appointment. During the follow-up visits, the patient should inform the doctor of any changes experienced since the last visit, including feelings of pain, unusual discharge from incisions, etc..so that appropriate care measures can be taken if necessary.
Following these tips will ensure proper recovery after wisdom teeth removal, minimize the risk of developing serious infections and lead a healthier life moving forward!