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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

5 Tips For Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Removal

30 September 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

When wisdom teeth become impacted or begin growing in and shifting other teeth, they typically need to be removed. Wisdom teeth removal is an outpatient procedure, but one should be prepared for a recovery period of at least a few days. If you're going to have your wisdom teeth removed soon, use the following tips to help your recovery:

Schedule Time Off

While wisdom teeth removal is a relatively minor surgery, there may be some pain and discomfort after it is completed. When scheduling your wisdom teeth removal, it is a good idea to either take a few days off work or school, or schedule it on a Friday morning so you will have the weekend to rest and recover.

Keep Pain at Bay

In most cases, dentists and oral surgeons prescribe narcotic medications to help with any post-surgery pain. Make sure that you take the medication on time and as prescribed. This will help keep pain and discomfort at bay; if you wait until you are uncomfortable to take the medication, you will have to deal with the pain while you wait for it to take effect. 

Choose Food Carefully

In the first few days after having your wisdom teeth removed, it is a good idea to consume food that is soft, liquid, or very easy to chew. Things like soups, yogurt, and mashed potatoes are all good choices when recovering from having your wisdom teeth removed. Eating these types of food will help ensure that you don't irritate the surgical incision sites during the act of chewing.

Beware Dry Sockets

After wisdom teeth are removed, blood clots form in the incision sites. If these clots become dislodged, the nerve can be exposed and this can be extremely painful. This condition is called dry sockets, and you want to do you best to avoid them. Avoid activities that can dislodge the blood clot, such as drinking through a straw or smoking cigarettes.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

As your incision sites are healing, it is important to keep your mouth clean to help prevent an infection. After your mouth stops bleeding, you can gently rinse your mouth with salt water. Continue with your regular oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing, but be careful not to disturb your incisions. Your dentist may also tell you to use a syringe full of water to clean the incision sites after eating to prevent food particles from getting stuck in the area. 

For more information, see a website such as http://accentdentalnwi.com/.