The wound left after the extraction of wisdom teeth, which is what we call a wisdom tooth cavity, requires a certain amount of time for repair. However, through scientific and reasonable methods, healing can be effectively promoted and the recovery period can be shortened. Next, I will introduce in detail how to repair wisdom tooth cavities more quickly from multiple aspects such as postoperative care, dietary adjustment, oral hygiene maintenance, living habit formation, and handling of special circumstances.
Postoperative initial care: Lay a solid foundation for healing
Correct compression for hemostasis
After tooth extraction, the doctor will place cotton balls or gauze at the wound site for the patient to bite tightly and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. This is the first and crucial step in postoperative care. Generally, it needs to be held tightly for 30 to 40 minutes. During this period, do not remove the cotton ball at will to check. If the cotton ball is removed too early, the blood in the wound has not fully coagulated to form a blood clot, which can easily lead to rebleeding. If there is still obvious bleeding after 40 minutes, you can replace it with a new cotton ball, continue to bite and press, and contact the doctor in time to consult the treatment method. Correct compression hemostasis can help the wound form a blood clot quickly, and the blood clot is the basis of wound healing. It can protect the wound, prevent infection and promote the subsequent healing process.
Apply cold compress in time
Within 24 hours after the operation, cold compress is an important measure to reduce swelling and pain and promote healing. You can use an ice pack or wrap ice cubes in a towel to apply cold compresses to the side of the extracted tooth for 15 to 20 minutes each time, with an interval of 1 to 2 hours. Cold compress can cause local blood vessels to concontract, reduce blood exudation and accumulation of tissue fluid, thereby alleviating swelling. At the same time, it can also reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings and relieve pain. During cold compresses, it is important to avoid direct contact of ice cubes with the skin to prevent frostbite. Timely and effective cold compresses can create a favorable local environment for the repair of wisdom tooth cavities, reduce inflammatory responses and accelerate healing.
Avoid touching the wound
After the operation, try to avoid licking the wound with your tongue, touching it with your fingers, and repeatedly sucking your mouth. These behaviors can destroy the newly formed blood clot. Once the blood clot falls off, the wound loses protection, which not only causes rebleeding but also increases the risk of infection and delays healing. The stable existence and gradual organization of blood clots can provide a guarantee for subsequent tissue repair. If you feel a foreign body sensation or a bloody smell in your mouth, don’t be overly nervous. This is a normal phenomenon. Just wait patiently for the wound to heal.
Dietary regulation: Provide adequate nutrition
Dietary choices in the early postoperative period
Avoid eating within two hours after tooth extraction. You can start eating some warm, cool and soft food after two hours. For example, warm rice porridge is both easy to digest and will not irritate the wound. Yogurt is rich in protein and calcium, which helps the body recover and has a soft texture. Tofu is also a good choice. It is rich in plant protein and has a tender and smooth texture. Avoid eating overly hot food, as high temperatures can cause blood vessels to dilate and increase the possibility of bleeding from the wound. Spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers and Sichuan pepper, can irritate wounds, intensify pain and inflammatory responses. Hard foods, such as nuts and pork ribs, may bump into the wound during chewing, causing damage. In the early postoperative period, choosing appropriate food can not only meet the body’s nutritional needs but also will not affect wound healing.
Dietary adjustment during the recovery period
As the wound gradually heals, about a week after the operation, you can gradually increase the variety of food, but still avoid eating overly hard and irritating foods. You can appropriately consume some protein-rich foods, such as eggs, fish, chicken, etc. Protein is an important raw material for the body to repair tissues and helps promote wound healing. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C can promote the synthesis of collagen and is beneficial for wound repair. Minerals also play an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of the body. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to a balanced diet to ensure that the body receives comprehensive nutrition and provide a sufficient material basis for the repair of wisdom tooth cavities.
Dietary taboos and precautions
During the entire period of wisdom tooth cavity restoration, alcohol must be strictly prohibited. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels, causing bleeding from wounds, and also affect the body’s immune function, increasing the risk of infection. Avoid smoking. Harmful substances such as nicotine in tobacco can affect the blood circulation at the wound site, causing tissue hypoxia and delaying wound healing. In addition, when eating, try to avoid chewing on the side where the tooth was extracted to prevent food debris from entering the wound and causing infection. If food residue accidentally gets into the wound, do not use sharp objects such as toothpicks to remove it. Instead, gently rinse your mouth with clean water or mouthwash to try to flush out the residue.
Oral hygiene maintenance: Prevent infection and promote healing
Oral hygiene in the early postoperative period
Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth within 24 hours after the operation, as the blood clot is still unstable at this time. Brushing and rinsing your mouth may destroy the blood clot and cause bleeding. However, after eating, you can gently rinse your mouth with clean water to wash out larger food residues in your mouth and keep your mouth basically clean. After 24 hours, you can start using the mouthwash recommended by your doctor for gargling. Each time, gargle for about 30 seconds, 4 to 5 times a day. Mouthwash has the function of sterilization and disinfection, which can effectively reduce the growth of bacteria in the mouth and prevent wound infection. When rinsing your mouth, do not rinse vigorously to avoid creating negative pressure that may cause blood clots to fall off.
Brushing methods and precautions
About a week after the operation, if the wound heals well, you can start brushing your teeth, but pay attention to the brushing method. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush. When brushing your teeth, be gentle, avoid the extraction wound, brush the other teeth first, and then slowly approach the area around the wound. Brush your teeth with moderate force to avoid damaging the wound. As the wound heals further, you can gradually gently brush the surface of the wound with a toothbrush to clean up food residues and bacteria around it. Maintaining good oral hygiene can create a healthy environment for the restoration of wisdom tooth cavities, prevent infection and accelerate the healing process.
Regular follow-up visits and check-ups
It is very important to have regular follow-up visits as instructed by the doctor. Doctors will examine the healing of the wound to determine if there are any issues such as infection and provide corresponding guidance and suggestions. During the follow-up visit, the doctor may adjust the treatment plan based on the recovery of the wound, such as whether to continue using mouthwash or whether further treatment is needed. Regular follow-up visits can promptly identify and address any issues that arise during the healing process, ensuring the smooth repair of wisdom tooth cavities.
Developing good living habits: Facilitating physical recovery
Ensure adequate sleep
Sleep is an important period for the body to repair itself. During the restoration of wisdom tooth cavities, it is necessary to ensure 7 to 8 hours of adequate sleep every day. Insufficient sleep can affect the body’s immune function, reduce its resistance and be unfavorable for wound healing. A regular schedule helps the body’s biological clock function properly, promotes the normal functions of various organs, and provides favorable physical conditions for wound repair. It is advisable to avoid using electronic devices before going to bed to create a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment and improve sleep quality.
Avoid vigorous exercise
For a period of time after the operation, it is necessary to avoid strenuous exercises such as running, rope skipping and basketball. When engaging in intense exercise, the body’s blood circulation speeds up and blood pressure rises, which may lead to bleeding from the wound. At the same time, intense exercise can also cause physical fatigue and affect the body’s recovery ability. You can choose some relatively relaxing activities, such as walking and yoga. Appropriate exercise can promote the body’s metabolism and enhance the body’s resistance, but you should pay attention to the intensity and duration of the exercise, and it is advisable to do so until the body does not feel tired. After the wound has basically healed, gradually resume the normal intensity of exercise.
Keep a good state of mind
Emotions and mental states also have a certain impact on physical recovery. Excessive tension and anxiety can lead to a stress response in the body, affecting the normal functions of the endocrine and immune systems and being detrimental to wound healing. During the period of wisdom tooth cavity repair, it is important to maintain a good state of mind. You can relax and relieve stress by listening to music, watching movies, chatting with friends and other ways. A positive and optimistic attitude can promote physical recovery and help wisdom tooth cavities heal faster.
Special case handling: Deal with abnormal healing
The management of infection
If the wound shows symptoms such as redness, swelling, increased pain, purulent discharge and fever, it is very likely that an infection has occurred. Once signs of infection are detected, seek medical attention promptly. The doctor will clean the wound, rinse it with normal saline and hydrogen peroxide solution to remove the infectious substances. At the same time, antibiotic drugs may be prescribed based on the infection situation. Patients should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions to take them on time and in the prescribed dosage. Infection can seriously affect wound healing. Only by dealing with the infection problem in a timely manner can the delay of wound healing be avoided and the wound recover as soon as possible.
Dealing with dry trough syndrome
Dry socket syndrome is a relatively common complication after wisdom tooth extraction, mostly occurring 2 to 3 days after the operation. The main manifestations are severe pain at the tooth extraction site, which can radiate to the temporal region of the ear, the submandibular area or the top of the head. The effect of oral painkillers is not obvious. The wound from tooth extraction is empty or has a putrid and degenerated blood clot, with a strong putrid smell. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately. Under local anesthesia, the doctor will thoroughly debridement the wound to remove the decaying and necrotic tissue. Then, drugs such as iodoform gauze strips will be placed inside the wound to promote the growth of granulation tissue and relieve pain. Generally, after 1 to 2 dressing changes, the pain will be significantly relieved and the wound will gradually heal.
Conclusion
Through various measures such as doing a good job in the initial postoperative care, reasonably adjusting the diet, maintaining oral hygiene, developing good living habits and correctly handling special situations, the repair of wisdom tooth cavities can be effectively promoted. Throughout the recovery process, it is essential to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and closely monitor the changes in the wound. If you have any questions about the healing of the wound, communicate with your doctor in a timely manner to ensure that the wisdom tooth cavity heals faster and better.
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