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Decrease Your Recovery Time After Wisdom Tooth Removal

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If you are feeling discomfort from impacted wisdom teeth, then you should consider tooth removal. It is common to have hesitation about having the surgery, however. Most people are worried about the pain, discomfort, and swelling that occurs after the surgery. It helps to know that the discomfort is temporary. Here are four things that will help to shorten your recovery time.

Control Bleeding

After your extractions, you should expect to experience some bleeding. Clean gauze is going to be your best friend during this time. You need to put the gauze in the area where your tooth was removed and bite down. It helps to apply pressure to stop the bleeding and change the gauze regularly when it is completely soaked.

Protect your Gums

A blood clot forms in the area where a tooth is extracted. You should not do anything that will dislodge the blood clot from your gums. This means you shouldn't be eating solid foods, drinking coffee, brushing your teeth, spitting, drinking from a straw, or drinking alcohol until the doctor gives you the go-ahead. You should not do anything that will harm your gums or delay your healing.

Prevent Dry Sockets

A socket is the hole in the bone left behind after your tooth is removed. As previously mentioned, a blood clot will form in the hole to protect your nerves and bone. If it becomes dislodged, your nerve and bones become exposed to air and food. Instead of a dark red color at the surgical site, you will be able to see whitish bone.

If bacteria gets in the socket, then you can experience pain and discomfort. It also takes longer for you to heal. If you suspect a dry socket, you'll want to get into your dentist's office as soon as you can. If dry sockets aren't taken care of, they can become a serious infection.

Use Analgesics 

Swelling is another part of recovery. If you prepare in advance, then you should have very little swelling. Most dentists will give you an ice pack to strap around your face. If not, you should have a frozen bag of peas waiting for you to use at home.

For pain, your dentist will usually prescribe a pain killer and anti-bacterial mouthwash. You also can use an over-the-counter painkiller. It really depends on how much pain you can endure. Since you can only eat soft foods, opt for cool treats, like ice cream, that will also reduce swelling and soothe your moth.

According to NHS Choices, it will usually take up to two weeks to recover from wisdom tooth removal if you take good care of yourself. However, the pain can be shortened; in the second week, you may just experience a swollen face and brusing. A dentist, like Dr. Peter L Drob, will give you information on how to take care of your mouth during the recovery period. It is important that you follow this advice to prevent delay in your healing.


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