If you have impacted third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, your dentist may recommend that you have them extracted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, raise your risk for dental infections, and affect your bite. Here are some ways to help ensure a speedy recovery following wisdom teeth removal surgery. 

Protect The Clot

After wisdom teeth removal surgery, a protective clot will form over the empty space. This clot will help prevent a painful condition called dry socket. Not only can dry socket cause pain but it can also heighten your risk for infection. Because of this, take special care not to disrupt the clot so that it stays in place while your socket is healing. To help ensure that you do not lose your protective clot, avoid swishing your mouth out with water.

While your dentist may recommend that you rinse your mouth with a saltwater mixture to help relieve discomfort and swelling, do so very gently. If you make a suction motion while swishing, you might dislodge the clot and cause excessive bleeding from the socket.  

Avoid Smoking

Not only can smoking cause you to lose your protective clot as a result of the sucking motion but it can also slow healing and cause an infection after your wisdom teeth removal surgery. Cigarette smoke contains harmful toxins that can contaminate your socket and it can also damage the small blood vessels and capillaries in your mouth. It is essential that you have optimal oral blood flow following your surgery to help promote circulation and healing.

Smoking can impair blood flow not only to your heart, lungs, and internal organs but also to the tiny vessels inside your mouth. If you are unable to quit smoking entirely, try cutting down until your sockets have healed from your wisdom teeth removal surgery. Cigarette smoking can also deplete your system of essential nutrients, such as vitamin C, that are needed to promote optimal health following oral surgery. 

If you are anticipating wisdom removal surgery, then consider the above interventions to help enhance the healing process. When you take steps to avoid dislodging your protective clot, avoid smoking, and follow your dentist's post-operative instructions, you are more likely to enjoy an event-free recovery. If you experience excessive bleeding, increased pain, a fever, or if your protective clot comes out, call your dentist right away so that they can quickly assess your situation and intervene as necessary. 

Talk to your dentist to learn more about wisdom teeth removal surgery.