You can start with your normal dental hygiene routines the night of surgery or the next day. Maintaining good oral hygiene and dental health is essential to preventing complications after a wisdom tooth extraction.
- Be sure to brush your teeth properly.
- Clean the surfaces of your teeth by using a soft brush.
- Do not brush near the surgical sites so that you don’t irritate or disrupt the blood clots that protect the surgery site. If it has been prescribed an antibacterial mouth rinse, make sure you use it.
- For the first five days after wisdom tooth removal, do not spit the toothpaste out - gently rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash or saltwater.
- When brushing your teeth remember to also brush your tongue in order to remove food particles and bacteria which could enter the wounded gums and cause an infection.
- On the third day after surgery, you may resume your flossing routines.
It is essential to clean your teeth and mouth properly otherwise you may have unpleasant problems such as infection or painful inflammation known as dry socket. It is also important to look for the signs of infection and if you see any of them to contact your dentist as soon as you can.
