How to Properly Heal Following Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Did you know that recovery is vital after oral surgery? Well, it’s true. It’s important to properly recover so you can return to a strong and successful oral health. So, if you’re about to extract your wisdom teeth in Ladera Ranch, California, your dental team at Mission Ranch Dental Aesthetics has some helpful recovery tips for you. Those are:

Tip No. 1: Try to reduce the bleeding as much as possible by placing a gauze pad over the affected area and applying pressure to it 45 minutes at a time. This should help. Make sure you replace the gauze pad with a clean one every round of pressure.

Tip No. 2: Ice outside the affected area for 10 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Repeat this process so the facial swelling remains controlled. This will also help with the pain and discomfort you might feel. You can ice the area with an ice pack, a bag of frozen peas or corn, or a cold compress.

Tip No. 3: Take the prescribed medications your doctor gives you as recommended. These pills will help with the pain. If you do not receive prescribed medications, you can dull the pain with over-the-counter medications, like Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol.

Tip No. 4: Have a liquid diet until the numbness wears off. Then, have a soft-foods diet for a few days to keep the surgical area clean and safe.

Tip No. 5: Continue to brush your teeth regularly, but please avoid brushing the teeth that are neighboring the surgical area. However, after the first 24 hours, you can start brushing those teeth again—just be soft and gentle as you do so.

If you have any questions or if you need any help, please feel free to call 949-388-6325 and talk to our friendly dental team at Mission Ranch Dental Aesthetics. We are here to help you in any way we can and we recommend scheduling an appointment with your dentist, Dr. Richard D. Guthrie, if you have any concerns. We look forward to your call!