In the field of oral health, wisdom tooth issues have always been a focus of concern for many people. When doctors recommend wisdom tooth surgery, patients always have all kinds of questions. One common question is: “Can I brush my teeth before wisdom tooth surgery?” This seemingly simple question is actually related to the success or failure of the surgery and the effect of postoperative recovery. Next, we will explore this issue comprehensively and in detail to help everyone clear up their doubts and make adequate preparations before the surgery.
The Particularity of Wisdom Tooth Surgery
Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, usually start to emerge around the age of 18 to 25. As modern people’s jawbones gradually become smaller and the size of their teeth changes relatively little, wisdom teeth often do not have enough space to erupt normally, which leads to a series of problems, such as pericoronitis of wisdom teeth, caries of adjacent teeth, and crowded teeth. In these cases, doctors often recommend extracting wisdom teeth through surgery.
Wisdom tooth surgery is different from common oral treatments such as filling and teeth cleaning. It is a kind of minor surgical operation. During the operation, the doctor needs to cut open the gum, remove some of the bone, and take out the wisdom tooth completely or by segmentation. Suturing is also required after the operation. This surgical method will create a wound in the oral cavity, and the oral cavity is a bacterial environment. Therefore, controlling the number of bacteria in the oral cavity and maintaining good oral hygiene are crucial for preventing postoperative infections.
The Importance of Brushing Teeth for Oral Hygiene
Brushing teeth is the most fundamental and important way to maintain oral hygiene. Brushing teeth can effectively remove food residues, soft deposits and dental plaque on the surface of teeth. If food residues stay in the mouth for too long, they will be decomposed and fermented by bacteria in the mouth, generating acidic substances. These acidic substances can erode teeth and lead to the occurrence of tooth decay. Dental plaque is the chief culprit causing many oral diseases. It is a bacterial biofilm adhering to the surface of teeth and contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria. If not removed in time, dental plaque will continue to thicken and gradually mineralize to form tartar, which in turn can lead to diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
For patients who are about to undergo wisdom tooth surgery, good oral hygiene can significantly reduce the risk of postoperative infection. When there are too many bacteria in the oral cavity, after the surgical wound is formed, the bacteria can easily invade the wound, causing infection, leading to increased postoperative pain, obvious swelling, slow wound healing, and even serious complications such as dry socket syndrome. By brushing teeth to keep the mouth clean, the number of bacteria can be reduced, creating a relatively clean environment for the surgery and facilitating the healing of the postoperative wound.
Can one brush their teeth before wisdom tooth surgery?
The answer is affirmative. It is okay to brush your teeth before wisdom tooth surgery, and it is very necessary. Maintaining oral hygiene before surgery not only reduces the risk of infection but also enables doctors to have a clearer field of vision during the operation, facilitating the smooth progress of the surgery.
On the morning of the operation, the patient should brush their teeth carefully as usual. When brushing your teeth, make sure that the surface of each tooth, including the lip surface, tongue surface and occlusal surface, can be cleaned. The Pap brushing technique can be adopted. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree Angle to the long axis of the tooth and point it towards the root tip. Follow the gingival and dental junction area, allowing one part of the bristles to enter the gingival sulcus and the other part to lie on the gingival margin. Try to extend as much as possible into the adjacent space. Use gentle pressure to make the bristles vibrate horizontally in the front and back direction for a short distance 4 to 5 times in the original position. When trembling, move the toothbrush about 1 millimeter. Brush only 2 to 3 teeth at a time, then move the toothbrush to the next group of teeth. Repeat this action in each area. This can effectively clean the surface of teeth and the edges of gums, and remove dental plaque and food debris.
At the same time, do not neglect the cleaning of the tongue coating. A large amount of bacteria and food residues can also adhere to the tongue. Gently scrubbing the tongue coating with a tongue brush or the back of a toothbrush can further reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. In addition, you can also rinse your mouth with clean water or mouthwash to wash away any food debris and bacteria remaining in your mouth.
Precautions for Brushing Teeth Before Surgery
Although it is possible to brush teeth before wisdom tooth surgery, there are still some points to note during the brushing process to avoid unnecessary irritation and damage to the oral cavity.
Choose the right toothbrush: Try to select a soft-bristled toothbrush. The bristles of a soft-bristled toothbrush are soft and will not cause excessive irritation to the gums and oral mucosa. Avoid using hard-bristled toothbrushes. Hard-bristled toothbrushes may damage the gums, cause gum bleeding and increase the risk of surgical infection.
Control the force of brushing your teeth: When brushing your teeth, pay attention to applying moderate force and avoid excessive force. Brushing teeth too hard not only easily damages the gums but also may cause the enamel on the surface of the teeth to wear down. Gentle and effective brushing actions can not only ensure the cleaning effect but also protect the oral tissues.
Avoid touching the swollen or painful areas around your wisdom teeth: If there is obvious swelling, pain or inflammation around your wisdom teeth, be especially careful when brushing your teeth and try to avoid these sensitive areas. You can clean the other teeth first, and then gently rinse the area around the wisdom teeth with clean water or mild mouthwash to reduce bacterial growth.
Follow the doctor’s advice: If the doctor has special oral hygiene requirements before the operation, be sure to follow them strictly. For instance, a doctor might recommend using a specific mouthwash for gargling for a period of time before the operation to further kill the bacteria in the mouth. Following the doctor’s instructions for oral hygiene can better ensure the safety of the surgery and postoperative recovery.
Handling of Special Circumstances
Acute attack of pericoronitis of wisdom teeth: If the pericoronitis of wisdom teeth is in the acute attack stage before wisdom tooth surgery, with obvious symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain and pus discharge, although oral hygiene needs to be maintained at this time, the way of brushing teeth needs to be adjusted. Avoid scrubbing the area around wisdom teeth forcefully to prevent aggravating inflammation and pain. You can rinse your mouth frequently with warm salt water or the special mouthwash prescribed by a doctor. Each rinse should last no less than 30 seconds. Through the impact of the water flow, food residues and bacteria in the mouth can be removed. At the same time, promptly report the inflammation to the doctor. The doctor may first carry out anti-inflammatory treatment based on the condition, and then perform the surgery after the inflammation is controlled.
If a patient has other oral diseases at the same time, such as oral ulcers, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc., they also need to inform the doctor before the surgery. Doctors will assess whether it is necessary to treat these diseases first or take special oral hygiene measures based on the specific situation. For instance, for patients with severe gingivitis or periodontitis, it may be necessary to undergo basic treatments such as teeth cleaning before surgery to reduce the number of bacteria and tartar in the mouth and lower the risk of surgical infection.
Conclusion
To sum up, it is possible and necessary to brush teeth before wisdom tooth surgery. Brushing teeth is an important measure to keep the mouth clean and reduce the risk of postoperative infection. Before the surgery, brushing your teeth carefully, choosing the right toothbrush, controlling the force of brushing, and following the doctor’s advice can create favorable conditions for the operation and promote the smooth healing of the postoperative wound. At the same time, for some special cases, such as acute attacks of pericoronitis of wisdom teeth or having other oral diseases, it is necessary to communicate with the doctor in a timely manner and take corresponding treatment measures. It is hoped that through the introduction of this article, everyone can have a clear understanding of whether to brush teeth before wisdom tooth surgery, and be able to better prepare for the surgery, face the surgery with a healthy oral condition, and get rid of the troubles caused by wisdom teeth as soon as possible.
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