Entering adulthood means many different things.
Paying rent.
Filling out tax forms.
And possibly getting your wisdom teeth removed when they start to come in.
Young adults expect those extra teeth to erupt from the gums between the ages of nineteen and twenty. Wisdom teeth can cause swelling, redness, and severe pain. Removing them, however, is one of the best courses of action you can take. It’s estimated that about 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted from 5 million people in the United States annually.
If you’ve decided to set an appointment with your local dental clinic or oral surgeon, continue reading to learn about the valuable pre and post-op care for the surgery.
Before The Operation
From identifying an impacted tooth, to booking your appointment—here’s what you need to know and do leading up to the surgery.
Identifying an Impacted Tooth
If you are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, and have been experiencing pain from inflamed gums or swelling behind your molars, your wisdom teeth may be coming in.
There are two scenarios. Either they will break through the gums, normally. Or the teeth are impacted—meaning they are growing at an angle instead of up and out of the gums. Since they usually don’t have room to grow, impacted teeth can really affect your smile. Getting them surgically removed is sometimes the only option.
If you fear that you may be suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth, call your dental clinic right away and set up an appointment. You may experience other symptoms like:
- tooth pain
- inability to open your mouth
- an unpleasant taste residing in your mouth
- bleeding
- bad breath
Call The Dental Clinic to Set up an Appointment Right Away
Since impacted teeth can also cause permanent damage if not treated. Tooth decay, cysts, and an increased risk of infected to the surrounding teeth are all possibilities.
After you have set your appointment at the dental clinic for wisdom teeth removal, take the next few days or weeks easy.
Avoid hard to chew foods days leading up to the surgery. Consume easy to chew foods and buy plenty of soft foods for you to consume during the recovery process. Think bananas and applesauce.
After The Operation
Have someone drive you home following the operation. It’s wise to have someone watching over you—a friend, parent, significant other—during this crucial period of recovery.
They can help monitor your diet—making sure you’re eating soft high protein food and chewing away from the surgical incisions. However, when first leaving the dental clinic, consume a liquid diet until your doctor tells you otherwise.
This person can also help administer your medication if the doctor provided you with a prescription.
Change your gauze often and keep your mouth clean to cut down on the risk of infection. You should be rinsing your mouth out with a solution of salt and water every day following the procedure.
Expect to experience bouts of nausea. It should, however, subside eventually.
Conclusion
Sometimes, you can’t avoid the pain that comes with your wisdom teeth finally coming in. Adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one should watch out for red gums, swelling of the mouth, and bleeding if they suspect their wisdom teeth are breaking through their gum line.
Oftentimes, a tooth can be impacted, and this can cause a myriad of serious issues.
However, setting up a tooth extraction appointment with a dental clinic in the area can ease the pain, and prevent permanent damage caused by the tooth. For a speedy recovery, follow these tips to ensure things go as smoothly as possible, so can start smiling again in no time at all.
