For young adults, having the wisdom teeth removed is almost a rite of passage. For many patients, wisdom teeth extractions are their first experience with surgery and anesthesia. It may be a very common procedure, but it is “real surgery” and your body will need some time to convalesce afterwards. No matter how tough or resilient you are, you will need to be kind to yourself and take it slow before you try to get back into your normal routines.
Do you need Bedford wisdom teeth removal? Contact Dr. Christopher Tye, for an experienced oral surgeon and DDS. Texas Oral Surgery Specialists is located in Colleyville and is convenient to patients in Watauga, Euless, Hurst, and Colleyville. Call us at 817-552-3223 to make an appointment.
Among other details, five things you should know before your surgery include the following.
- You will likely have post-surgical pain and swelling. Most patients experience some degree of discomfort. You probably won’t experience it full-force until the second day, after all the anesthetic medicines have left your system. We will provide you with very detailed instructions on how to relieve your pain, but the best thing you can do to keep you pain at a minimum is to (1) rest and (2) keep your head elevated. Your body has the tools it needs to heal itself; you just need to give it time and keep your activity level extremely low. Do not plan on going out or going to work/classes for a few days after your oral surgery.
- You will need a buddy after surgery. This is not negotiable. You will definitely need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home after your oral surgery. The medicines used for anesthesia will be in your system for several hours afterward, so operating heavy machinery is not safe. It’s best to keep your buddy close to you for a day or two after you get home, since you will not be back up to 100 percent for several days. You wouldn’t think twice about letting someone take care of you when you have the flu; this is similar type of situation. This person can help you prepare an ice pack to help reduce swelling, bring you towels to catch your drool when you are resting, and prepare your soft foods for you when you get hungry.
- You will not be able to eat your usual foods after surgery. Most patients don’t think about food at all on the first day after surgery, until their stomachs start to rumble! You will have sedatives and other medications in your system and you will feel like resting for a good long while. However, once you wake up, you should have some soft foods on hand. Liquids, smoothies, tepid soups, puddings, and purees (like applesauce) are the best choices. Before your day of surgery, you should take a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up an assortment of soft foods that will be easy to consume when your mouth is still sore and swollen.
- You won’t be able to rinse or brush your teeth for 24 hours after surgery. After your wisdom teeth removal, it’s important to leave your mouth alone, to the greatest degree possible. The first 24 hours are critical to proper healing, so anything that may disturb your surgical sites, including spitting or swishing, is off limits. This includes brushing the teeth or cleaning the mouth in any way. Many patients make sure the last thing they do before they leave for their surgery is conduct a good oral hygiene routine. If the possibility of not being able to brush your teeth bothers you, brush and floss the teeth one last time to make sure you are starting with a clean mouth.
- You will not be able to smoke or vape after surgery. A lot fewer people smoke these days, which is a very good thing. However, many people also use electronic devices to inhale nicotine vapor. Regardless of whether this is any safer than smoking or not—the important thing to know is that you will not be able to use nicotine products after your wisdom teeth removal. Creating suction in the mouth can lead to a condition known as dry sockets, which is extremely painful and affects how quickly your extraction sites heal. Nicotine vapor and smoke are both irritating to the mouth, so even using them after you are allowed to suck again is not a good idea.If your body is used to getting nicotine and you anticipate getting cravings, you may wish to speak with a pharmacist about getting some patches to help you in the first days after surgery. We certainly don’t encourage nicotine use, but we know it is a difficult habit to quit. If you have been using nicotine, you may want to look forward to your post-oral-surgery period as an opportunity to quit!
If your body is used to getting nicotine and you anticipate getting cravings, you may wish to speak with a pharmacist about getting some patches to help you in the first days after surgery. We certainly don’t encourage nicotine use, but we know it is a difficult habit to quit. If you have been using nicotine, you may want to look forward to your post-oral-surgery period as an opportunity to quit!
Do you need Bedford wisdom teeth removal? Oral surgeon and dentist Dr. Christopher Tye is located in Colleyville and is convenient to patients from all over the greater North Fort Worth area. Call us at 817-552-3223 to make an appointment.
