Wisdom teeth surgery is a common surgery but can be often associated with painful memory among many adults. Having undergone the surgery myself, I can identify with them. While it is impossible to eliminate all the pain post-operatively, there are some tips and tricks to make your recovery process of your wisdom teeth surgery as painless as possible:
1. Listen and follow your oral surgeon’s instructions
Proper post-op care is instrumental towards a speedy and smooth recovery. This can also keep post-op complications at bay. During your recovery journey from the wisdom teeth surgery, you should follow closely to the advice given by your oral surgeon as best as possible. You will be glad that you did.
2. Know how to manage the post-op pain
As the anaesthesia begins to wear off, you will gradually feel the pain kicking in. Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you can feel the discomfort.
Bleeding and swelling is not uncommon. You will find that an ice pack is does wonder in relieving the pain, numbing the area of your mouth that is affected. Leave it in place for 30 minutes, then remove for 30 minutes, and then replace the pack again.
3. Take proper care as to not dislodge the newly-formed blood clot
After your surgery, blood clot should develop over the removal site to protect the wound. If you aren’t careful, the blood clot can dislodge, dissolve or even fail to form at all. This can result in a painful dental condition known as “dry socket”, which is easily one of the most common complications following wisdom teeth surgery.
Dry socket is characterised by intense pain and visible bone in your socket. The risk is present until the surgical site heals completely, which will usually take around 7 to 10 days. [1]
To minimise the risk of dry socket, don’t drink using a straw during this period. As you will not be able to brush your teeth for the first few days, use a mouthwash to clean your mouth. A word of warning, though: avoid rinsing your mouth too vigorously as you may risk dislodging the clot.
4. Make sure you get plenty of rest
Medical Certificate (MC) will be given for the first 5 days – please use this to rest at home. [2]During the first week of recovery, you should avoid engaging in strenuous activities which will increase your blood pressure, as it will hinder the formation of blood clot.It is likely that you will not want to, anyway.
5. Know what to eat and drink
After the surgery ordeal is over, you should drink plenty of water to hydrate yourself. This also helps to prevent an upset stomach and dehydration. Steer away from caffeine, carbonated or alcoholic beverages as it may impede healing. As it will be painful and hard for you to chew, you can only eat food which are soft or mushy, and does not require chewing. Stock up on food like milk, yoghurt, ice cream and smoothie. Mashed potatoes and blended soups are also lifesavers, but please cool it down before you eat it. Hot food & drinks can lead to various infections, burn injuries and dental irritation.