Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your GumsOral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

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Oral Health: Don't Ignore Your Gums

When you go to your dentist, you are likely concerned about cavities and the stains on your teeth. If you are like me, then you probably never thought much about your gums. Unfortunately, this caused me to form a serious gum recession condition. My dentist said that hard brushing practices, poor flossing techniques, and even the consumption of sugary foods led to the recession. After some deep scaling treatments, I was informed that I needed a gum graft procedure. The gums are extremely important to your health. They provide your teeth with the nutrients they need and they protect the sensitive dental roots. The gums even keep bacteria away from your jaw bone. Don't ignore your gums like I did. Read my blog and learn about proper oral care techniques. Prevention practices can easily save your gums from necessary restoration.

How To Improve Recovery Time When Having Wisdom Teeth Removed

31 August 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If your dentist had discovered that your wisdom teeth are starting to come in, they may recommend that you remove the teeth before they start causing problems. If you have concerns about the recovery process, know these ways that you can reduce the time it takes to get back to normal.

Control the Bleeding

It is normal to experience bleeding after having wisdom teeth removed. It is important to have clean gauze on hand so that you can help control the bleeding. Simply put some gauze where the empty socket is located and gently bite down on them. This helps apply the right amount of pressure that will stop bleeding, as well as not cause damage to the area. Swap out the gauze once you notice it has become soaked and cannot absorb any more blood.

Protect the Gums

You should be aware of what blood clots are and why they are so important in the healing process. They will eventually form where the tooth is missing, and you want to avoid doing anything that could cause the blood clots from becoming dislodged. Avoid eating foods that are solid and can irritate the gums, drinking your morning coffee, spitting, or using a straw. Your dentist may even recommend to not brush your teeth until the blood clots have formed. If you dislodge the blood clot, it will only lengthen your healing process until another one can form.

Prevent Dry Socket

The hole left behind in your gums is called the socket, which is where that blood clot forms to provide protection to the bone and nerves under it. The blood clot helps protect the area from food and air, and prevent bacteria from getting inside it. You can tell that the area is affected by dry socket if you can see the white bone rather than seeing a deep red color.

The bacteria inside the socket is what causes the discomfort and pain and takes the area much longer to heal. When you feel like you have an issue with dry socket, visit your dentist for assistance. It can eventually cause an infection if left untreated.

The recovery process after wisdom tooth extraction can be complicated, which is why it's so important to stay on top of care after your oral surgery. If you have any questions regarding the recovery process after extracting wisdom teeth, be sure to reach out to your dentist early to avoid a complication.