Feeling anxious about an upcoming appointment for wisdom teeth removal? At the Premier Dental Center, it’s our goal to ensure every patient feels confident and informed about their treatment plans. That’s why we’ve put together this recovery guide so you know what to expect once you return home from wisdom teeth extraction. Our dentist in Shelby Township, MI, would also be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you have during your next visit.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know.
Before We Begin
Set aside some time to prepare your recovery space before your appointment. (Your future self will thank you!) That way, you can prioritize rest and healing once you’re home again.
Your recovery space should have everything you need to feel comfortable. This may include pillows, blankets, fuzzy slippers, your favorite water bottle, and other cozy items to help you be at ease.
1. Stock Up on Soft Foods
Once you return from your appointment, the last thing you’ll want to do is cook. If your appointment is coming up soon, now’s the time to stock up on foods that are soft and easy to chew. Many of the below grocery items can be bought as single-serve containers for your convenience.
Recommended foods to eat after wisdom teeth extraction:
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Oatmeal
- Spaghetti O’s
- Creamy Soups
- Scrambled Eggs
- Yogurt
- Cottage Cheese
- Applesauce
After your appointment, we’ll give you detailed aftercare instructions so you know what to expect and how soon you can resume your normal diet. For example, in the days after wisdom teeth removal, you’ll need to avoid foods that are hard and difficult to chew. Non-chilled foods should also be served warm, not hot.
2. Be Mindful of the Extraction Site
After your procedure, we’ll ask you to gently bite down on the gauze pad placed over the extraction site. After the length of time we tell you, please remove and discard the gauze—replacing it with fresh gauze if needed.
While in recovery, we ask that you don’t do anything that involves strain or excessive activity. This can increase bleeding or reopen a wound.
3. Avoid Straws and Smoking
Do NOT use a straw until at least 24 hours have passed since your wisdom tooth extraction. Otherwise, you risk dislodging the blood clot that forms over the extraction site. This blood clot is your body’s way of protecting the underlying bone and nerves until your wound heals.
Also, you should NOT smoke after . We always recommend our patients quit smoking because it’s better for their oral health and overall wellbeing. However, you should especially avoid smoking after a dental procedure. Not only is it bad for your health and teeth, it inhibits your body’s natural healing ability.
4. Stay Elevated
After your procedure, you may find yourself tired or drowsy from the type of sedation you received. When you get home, your first reaction might be to sleep, but we want to caution you against lying down.
Rather than lying flat on your back or on your side, we strongly suggest resting in a reclining chair or finding another way to keep your head elevated. This will help reduce the amount of pain you feel while recovering from .
5. Watch a Movie or TV Show
TV can be a welcome distraction after wisdom tooth removal. Whether you want to re-watch a comfort movie or binge-watch a new trending show, it’s never a bad idea to keep the TV remote close as you recover.
6. Use Your Irrigation Syringe As Instructed
Until your gums heal, you’ll need to use an irrigation syringe to keep the extraction site(s) clean after eating.
The syringe works great for getting out pesky particles of food without causing further injury to the extraction sites. If a piece of food gets stuck in the spot your tooth used to be, don’t panic. Rinse it out slowly with the syringe and if you’re up for it, we recommend doing so with warm saltwater.
You can brush your teeth the night after your appointment but do so at a gentle pace and avoid the extraction site(s).
Book a Wisdom Teeth Consultation
Whether it’s you or a loved one going through wisdom teeth removal, we hope you feel a little more prepared now. Our dentist in Shelby Township, MI, would be more than happy to explain everything in more detail during a consultation. To schedule an appointment, please call the Premier Dental Center at (248) 457-0500. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.