Getting your wisdom tooth removed is the first step of the procedure, with recovery being the next step. For this, you need to know how to keep your mouth clean after wisdom tooth removal.
After a dental professional removes the wisdom tooth that is causing you pain and discomfort, it is your job to keep your mouth clean.
Otherwise, you could fall prey to infections or inflammation, and the problem might get worse over time. If you are not taking post-operative care of your teeth, your recovery will be slow, and the pain might increase.
Dry socket or increased inflammation is a common aftereffect of wisdom tooth removal if you are not careful about dental hygiene and care.
You need to take extensive care of your teeth for a week or two after your wisdom tooth removal operating.
If you have concerns about brushing teeth after wisdom teeth removal or other aspects related to oral care, keep on reading. We have summarized the whole care routine for you in this article.
How to Clean Your Mouth After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Initially, your doctor will guide you about keeping your mouth clean. When sending you home, your dentist will fill your mouth with gauze to cover the surgery site.
You can replace this gauze with a new one after an hour or two. If you are bleeding heavily, you can change the gauze every half an hour or whenever the need be. The bleeding will stay for about a few hours.
Brushing Teeth After Wisdom Tooth Removal
You might be tempted to brush your teeth after the surgery but do not do so. For the first two days, you should not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth using a mouthwash.
A brush or mouthwash can disrupt the healing process and lead to interference in blood clotting, infection, or prolonged healing.
After three days of the surgery, you can start brushing your teeth but do not brush the surgical site. Steer clear of the site of surgery and do not take your brush even close to it.
Use a mouthwash
Brush your teeth using a toothbrush with soft bristle and brush slowly. After the first few days of your surgery, do not spit out the toothpaste.
Use an antiseptic mouthwash for rinsing your mouth. Tilt your head to the side to drain the mouthwash. You can also make a saltwater mouthwash at home for this as it is also very effective.
Brush your Tongue
When brushing your teeth, also brush your tongue as bacteria can build on the tongue. These bacteria or food particles could enter the wounded site and cause infection.
Thus, you need to brush your tongue along with your teeth to keep the site of surgery free of any bacterial attack.
How to Make a Saltwater Mouthwash?
The easiest and most effective method of cleaning your mouth after wisdom tooth removal is to use a saltwater mouthwash. Start using this solution on the second day of your surgery.
It helps in cleaning your mouth and also keeps inflammation at bay. To make this mouthwash, you will just need salt and water.
Mix half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Swish the saline solution in your mouth for 30 seconds.
Instead of spitting it out, tilt your head to one side and then let the solution drain. In this way, the empty tooth socket will not be disturbed.
Make this a routine after every meal so that the food particles are removed effectively. If you want to use a mouthwash, use one that does not have alcohol.
Use an Irrigator
You can consult your dentist about the usage of an irrigator. You can either use this or a syringe for rinsing your mouth after every meal and before going to bed.
If you have gotten the wisdom tooth removed from a lower site, your dentist will most probably prescribe this.
Fill the irrigator with the saltwater solution and use it to flush your teeth out. It can be painful, but it will help in keeping your whole mouth, along with the site of surgery, clean so that you do not have to face the pain of infection or inflammation.
How to Care for Teeth after Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Along with cleaning, you also have to follow some tips to make sure that you are not disturbing the wounded site or giving room to infections. If you want to fix your bad teeth with no money, have a look on detailed guide.
No Straws
After wisdom tooth removal, do not use straws for drinking beverages. When you suck on the straw, it causes a pressure change in your mouth, and this could harm the surgery site.
Lots of Water
Water is your best friend when it comes to taking care of your body. It does not only give you clean and clear skin but also keeps your mouth moist. This prevents infections of the dry socket.
No Caffeine or Alcohol
For the first two or three days of your surgery, do not drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol. Similarly, you should drink hot drinks as they can disrupt the formation of blood clots.
Eat Soft Food
Do not put too much pressure on your teeth after the surgery. Hard foods that need to be chewed a lot can get stuck in the empty socket, so you should eat soft food.
Eat foods like yogurt and or oatmeal. Do not eat spicy or hot foods as they can irritate your teeth. Every time you eat, use a saline solution rinse to clean your mouth thoroughly.
Do not Smoke
For the first few days, do not smoke and do not chew on tobacco. Both these things can slow down the recovery process and might increase inflammation.
Conclusion
Wisdom tooth extraction is a painful process, and you should not have to put yourself in more pain after the surgery. Therefore, focusing on post-operative care is imperative for fast recovery and preventing infections.
In this article, you have learned how to keep your mouth clean after wisdom teeth removal. Use these tips and methods to take the road to a speedy recovery.
