A brush’s bristles can become worn over time, which reduces their cleaning ability.

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Water is not only important for your overall health, but it also encourages saliva production which is important or healthy teeth.

Water is also much healthier and better for your teeth than sugary drinks.

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To absorb calcium your body needs Vitamin D, so make sure you are going outside and getting a good amount of sunlight every day.

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Try to avoid eating a lot of sugary foods and sweets. Sugar greatly increases the amount of plaque on your teeth.

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Floss at least once per day to get rid of plaque in areas between the teeth that are difficult or impossible to reach with a toothbrush.

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Make sure you visit your dentist regularly – dentists can thoroughly clean your teeth and check for cavities, plaque and any other dental issues that need to be addressed.

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Calcium is important for strong teeth and dense bones. You can get calcium from dairy products and nuts.

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Brush your teeth with a faster and more efficient tool, which easily cleans areas of the mouth where bacteria and plaque build up.

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Brush your teeth twice a day, once before bed and once at any other time.

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Before surgery

A few days or weeks before the surgery, you’ll meet with your surgeon to discuss the process. During this meeting, you should take the time to discuss:

• Any health problems you have
• Any medications you take
• What type of anaesthesia you’ll receive (a local anaesthetic or a general anaesthetic)
• Any questions or doubts you might have

The day of the surgery

On the day of the surgery, you’ll probably be feeling anxious. However, you can take comfort in the fact that wisdom teeth surgery typically takes less than 45 minutes to complete.

You’ll also be glad to know that you won’t feel any pain, thanks to the anaesthesia. The anaesthesia you’ll receive will be one of the following:

• Local anaesthesia. With this type of anaesthesia, only your mouth and gums will be numb, and you’ll still be awake during surgery
• IV sedation. Here, the surgeon will give you drugs through a vein in your arm to make you sleepy and relaxed. Local anaesthesia is also used.
• General anaesthesia. This type of anaesthesia is where you sleep during the entire surgery.

The surgery itself is typically straightforward. If the wisdom teeth are impacted, then the surgeon will need to cut through your gums to get to the tooth. The surgeon will stitch the wound shut afterwards. The surgeon might also need to put gauze in your mouth to soak up any blood.

Immediately after the surgery

After the surgery, you’ll be able to go home and rest. Some people even go back to work.

If you had a general anaesthetic though, then you should find a friend to drive you home, because driving under the effects of general anaesthetic can be dangerous.

The days after the surgery

You’ll experience swelling and discomfort during the first three days or so after surgery. Some people also experience pain. However, don’t worry too much because your surgeon will prescribe you with painkillers.

Here are a few tips to ensure you have a smooth recovery:

• Use an ice pack against your cheeks to reduce swelling and pain.
• Stick to eating soft foods such as soup, pasta and rice. Avoid hard foods and sticky foods.
• Don’t be tempted to drink through a straw. The act of sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clots that help your mouth to heal.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Don’t brush your teeth on the same day after the surgery; wait until the day after.
• Be careful when brushing your teeth. Be especially careful not to dislodge any blood clots.

Want to know more?

If you’d like to know more about wisdom tooth extraction and what to expect from the procedure, simply bring it up at your next dental appointment with us. One of our friendly dentists will be more than happy to answer all of your questions!

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