FredrickWisdom teeth removal is a common oral surgery procedure. It’s one of the preventative measure to protect your other teeth from future problems and preserve your oral health. These days, it is usually quick and most people can return to normal activities in just a few days. There is this perception of pineapple juice for wisdom teeth recovering. Many people claim that pineapple juice help in wisdom teeth recovering. This article will explore more information about wisdom teeth and how pineapple juice can help in the recovery.
What is wisdom teeth removal?
Wisdom teeth removal is the extraction of your third molars — the four permanent adult teeth located in the very back of your mouth, in the upper and lower jaws. Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 21.
Most people have all four of their wisdom teeth. It’s estimated that 5% to 37% of people only have some of their wisdom teeth — or in some cases, none at all.
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Researchers believe that wisdom teeth were necessary for our ancestors, as their diet mostly consisted of hard nuts, crunchy leaves and uncooked meat. Today, however, we eat more cooked food and use forks and knives to cut our food up into smaller pieces. As a result, wisdom teeth are widely regarded as vestigial structures (parts of the human body that have become unnecessary).
What happens during removal of the wisdom teeth ?
Once sedation medications have been given, your surgeon will administer local anesthesia to numb the teeth and gums. Impacted wisdom teeth (wisdom teeth trapped in the gums or bone) are exposed with incisions, giving your surgeon adequate access.
Once the wisdom teeth are visible, your oral surgeon carefully loosens and lifts them from their sockets, cleans the areas and places stitches. In most cases, the stitches will fall out on their own in a few days.
How long does it takes to remove the wisdom teeth ?
Typically, wisdom teeth extraction takes about one hour or less. More complex cases may take longer.
Side effects after wisdom tooth removal
Most people experience pain, bleeding, and swelling. These are expected side effects. But the amount of pain, bleeding, and swelling varies from person to person. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Bleeding: You should expect some bleeding, oozing, or redness in your saliva. But this bleeding should go away after the first 24 hours.
- Pain: Pain is usually worse on the first and second day after your removal. It usually starts to get better after 48 hours but can take about 1 week to fully resolve. Most people don’t need pain medications after the fourth day.
- Swelling: Swelling is common around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of the face. Swelling gets worse over the first 48 to 72 hours and then starts to get better. It can take up to 10 to 14 days to fully go away.
Other side effects you might experience include:
- Bruising: Some people experience bruising in addition to swelling. This usually develops 24 hours after removal and worsens on the second and third days.
- Nausea and vomiting: If you receive general anesthesia for your removal, you might experience nausea and vomiting. This usually goes away after a few hours.
- Facial numbness: You also receive local anesthesia. Numbness of your lip, chin, and tongue from anesthesia should get better after a few hours.
- Cracked lips: During the procedure, your dental team has to keep your mouth open. This can stretch your lips and cause your skin to crack. Vaseline or Aquaphor can help relieve this.
- Sore throat and jaw: Many people notice a sore throat after removal. You might also have pain or stiffness in your jaw from keeping your mouth open during the removal. These should go away over the next 2 or 3 days.
Pineapple Juice for wisdom teeth Recovering
You’ll be surprised to learn there is actually some truth to the claim Pineapple Juice for wisdom teeth Recovering. Although it is a bit more complicated than how the internet makes it seem.
Essentially, pineapple juice can help reduce swelling and address pain thanks to a natural enzyme called bromelain. The enzyme can trigger the body’s ability to fight pain and reduce swelling. So it’s not the pineapple juice per se, but a substance you can find in it.
There are a few studies that have looked closer at bromelain and found it can have very good results. For instance, one small study on 40 participants who went through wisdom tooth removal found that 70% of them (28 participants) felt better thanks to bromelain. Their swelling and pain reduced.
However, the participants also took an antibiotic, which could have greatly helped with pain and swelling as well. Not to mention that they only took bromelain and not pineapple juice. So the results should be taken with a grain of salt.
Food to eat and foods to avoid
Staying hydrated and eating well is important for recovery, though you might not have a very good appetite directly after surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions on what you can eat the first few days of recovery. Think of food that will be easy to eat without much chewing, and food that won’t disrupt your blood clot or stitches.
Start with very soft food at first, such as:
- cottage cheese
- apple sauce
- pudding
- soup
- mashed potatoes
- smoothies
When eating, avoid:
- extremely hot food that can burn the site of the surgery
- nuts or seeds that could get stuck in the hole where your wisdom teeth used to be
- drinking from a straw, or slurping too vigorously from a spoon, which can dislodge your blood clot or ruin stitches
- Slowly begin eating heartier food when you feel ready.
What are the complications with wisdom teeth removal?
Two major complications from wisdom teeth removal are dry socket and infection. Both of these issues are rare. But here’s what you should know about them.
Dry socket
Dry socket develops when the clot that was forming at the extraction site falls out. This clot helps your jaw heal and protects the inside of your jaw from the outside world.
So when it falls out, you can feel a lot of pain because your nerves are now exposed. Dry socket develops in about 30% of people.
If you develop dry socket, your dental provider can place a platelet-rich fibrin clot in your open socket. This protects your nerve and relieves pain.
Infection
Very few people develop an infection after wisdom teeth removal. Many studies show that routine use of antibiotics does not decrease the risk of developing infection. Instead, keep an eye on your system and listen to your body. See your dental provider if you develop any fever, redness, or worsening pain or swelling. These could be signs of a dental infection.
Fredrick
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