Should you brush your teeth before wisdom teeth surgery

Should you brush your teeth before wisdom teeth surgery
What do I expect the day of surgery?
It is normal to be nervous as the day of your surgery gets closer. It is important that you understand the procedures involved in your stay to make your recovery safe and as speedy as possible. Please keep in mind that the surgical treatment of each person is different. Although you may be having the same operation as someone else, the way you will need to prepare and the things that will need to be done before, during, and after surgery may be special for you.

If you get a cough, cold, flu-like symptoms, fever or any strange symptoms before your surgery, let your doctor know right away. On the day of surgery, you will meet with the team involved in your surgery. This may include your surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, preop holding nurse, operating room nurse, postanesthesia care nurse and various other healthcare professionals.

How do I prepare for my surgery?

  • As a general rule, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery. In some cases, you may be allowed to drink clear liquids up to a few hours before your anesthesia. This may seem strict, not being able to have a sip of water or coffee, but this decreases the risk for problems such as vomiting during surgery.
  • You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a small sip of water, but do not swallow any of it.
  • If you have been told to take medicine the day of surgery, take them with just a small sip of water.
  • Stop smoking for at least twenty-four (24) hours before surgery.
  • Do not drink alcohol for at least twenty-four (24) hours before surgery.
  • Do not chew gum on the day of surgery.
  • Bathe or shower the day of surgery. Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. The color of the skin and nail beds is an important sign of blood circulation.
  • Clothing should be loose fitting, comfortable and appropriate for wearing after the procedure you will be having.
  • Do not wear jewelry, including wedding rings and body piercing (including tongue piercing), or bring money or valuables with you. Rings may be cut off, if unable to remove to lower the risk of problems such as swelling during surgery.
  • No hairspray or hairpins should be worn.
  • You may be asked to remove your glasses, contacts, hearing aids and dentures. Please bring your eyewear case, your hearing aid case and/or a denture cup.
  • If you have a C-Pap or Bi-Pap machine ask if you should bring it the day of surgery.
  • Bring items such as your inhaler if you have asthma or a cane if you use one, to have ready if you will need them after surgery.
  • Patients returning home following their surgery must be driven home by a responsible adult. You may be asked to provide the driver’s name and phone number.

If I did not receive a pre-anesthetic interview or testing, what are important things do I need to pay attention to or bring on the day of surgery?

  • Bring a list of all the medicines you are taking, the reason you are taking it, the dose you take and how often you take it. Include  prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal remedies (visit www.asahq.org for additional information on herbal remedies), recreational drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. The American Society of Anesthesiologists,(ASA) recommends that everyone stop herbal medicines at least two (2) to three (3) weeks before your surgery to avoid the possibility of unwanted interactions and side effects. This information will help your anesthesia provider to select the best drugs for you to avoid the unwanted drug interactions. It is important that you also bring a list of any known food or drugs to which you are allergic.
  • You will be asked to give a detailed health history and family history. This will include any problems with anesthesia and allergies.
  • This information is important for your safety.,If you do not follow instructions about not eating or drinking before your surgery, your surgery may be delayed or even cancelled.

Reprinted with permission by the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. ASPAN Patient Information. Available at: www.aspan.org

General Instructions

After extraction of teeth, a blood clot forms in the remaining socket. To prevent post-operative inflammation and infection, it is important to keep this blood clot in place.

For the first 48 hours after extraction:

  • DO NOT vigorously rinse your mouth as this may rinse away the blood clot.
  • DO NOT use drinking straws.
  • DO NOT smoke.
  • DO NOT disturb the extraction site with tongue or fingers.

Bleeding

After tooth removal, it is normal to ooze blood from the tooth socket for approximately 24 hours. To minimize bleeding, do the following:

  • Bite on damp gauze for 1 hour after extraction.
  • Repeat with fresh gauze every 20 minutes as needed.
  • DO NOT lie flat. Elevate your head with a pillow.
  • Limit activity for the first 2-3 days.

Swelling

It is normal to swell after tooth removal. The swelling is greatest 2-3 days after surgery, and may remain for an additional 3 days before it starts to resolve.

  • Immediately after surgery, place ice packs over the area.
  • Leave the pack on for 20 minutes and then off for 20 minutes for the rest of the day.
  • After the first 24 hours, it is not necessary to continue cold packs.

Postoperative discomfort

After removal of teeth, it is normal to experience some amount of discomfort when the anesthesia wears off. Taking prescribed medication as directed should control discomfort, but may not eliminate it.

  • DO NOT operate a motor vehicle or machinery while taking pain medication. It can make you drowsy.

Infection

After surgical procedures, there is always a chance that infection might develop. This does not happen in most cases. A prescription may be written for you after a procedure that has a higher incidence of post-operative infection.

  • Take all prescribed antibiotics until finished.
  • Women taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are recommended to use other methods of contraception while taking antibiotics. Penicillin and penicillin-like medications temporarily decrease effectiveness of birth control pills.

Sutures

Depending on the extent of the procedures, sutures (stitches) may be placed in order to help wound healing. If you have sutures, the doctor will inform you of this after the procedure.

  • Sutures that dissolve should fall out in about 1-7 days.
  • The non-dissolvable sutures need to be removed as early as 7 to 10 days. However, most are removed at 3 weeks.

Other Instructions

If you have had IV sedation or general anesthesia for your procedure, you should rest at home with moderate activity as tolerated.

For the next 24 hours following anesthesia:

  • DO NOT drive a car or operate machinery or power tools.
  • DO NOT drink any alcoholic beverages including beer.
  • DO NOT engage in any moderate to high intensity physical activity (e.g., running, weight-lifting)

Brushing

  • Begin normal hygiene the night of surgery or the next day, brush lightly as you get closer to the area of surgery.
  • DO NOT spit.

Diet Suggestions

Begin with clear liquids, such as apple or cranberry juice, 7 Up® ,or ginger ale.

Advance diet the first day as tolerated, such as Jell-O®, applesauce, or milkshakes.

Soft, non-chewy foods are recommended for 1 week after surgery, such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or pasta.

DO NOT eat popcorn, peanuts, seeds, or chips for at least 2 weeks after surgery to prevent an infection in the surgical site from impacted food debris.

DO NOT rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours after surgery. After that, rinse gently with the oral rinse, if prescribed by your doctor, or with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) 2-3 times a day for 1 week. Brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for the first 24 hours.

Warning Signs

If any of the following should occur, do not hesitate to contact us during regular office hours at (702) 660-5574. During the evening or night hours call (702) 660-5574 and follow the prompts.

  • Bleeding that cannot be controlled by firmly biting on a gauze for 60 minutes.
  • Pain which is not controlled by the prescribed dose of medication. DO NOT take higher doses.
  • Persistent nausea or vomiting.
  • An increase in swelling after the first 72 hours or swelling that interferes with swallowing.
  • A very foul-tasting discharge that is unrelieved by normal oral hygiene.
  • Fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE LIFE-THREATENING.

It is our desire that your recovery be as smooth and pleasant as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but please contact our office if you have questions about your progress.

Home care instructions / answers to common questions:

Bleeding

  • After your teeth were removed, a gauze compress was placed on the wound and you were asked to keep your jaws closed firmly for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. You will likely need to replace the gauze every 30 to 45 minutes as needed to control bleeding. Please use gauze for several hours after surgery to ensure bleeding is controlled. Bleeding should be very minimal when you retire to bed (gauze should not be required when you sleep).
  • If it appears the bleeding is not slowing or stopping, ensure the gauze is placed directly over the area of bleeding and firm, uninterrupted pressure should be maintained for at least 45 minutes. This will resolve the vast majority of bleeding.
  • Additional measures could include utilizing a tea bag in the standard form. Place this over the extraction site and biting firmly as indicated above. The tannic acid in the tea will help with clotting. If heavy bleeding continues, phone the doctor at the office.

Dry Socket

Dry socket is the premature breakdown of the blood clot. This typically occurs between the third and fifth day after surgery. It is more common in females. It is more common in patients that smoke or have medical conditions that affect healing. If you overexert yourself physically then you are more likely to get a dry socket. Symptoms that may indicate you have a dry socket are increased pain and a bad taste in your mouth. Typically, the pain radiates to your ear. If you have these symptoms, please call our office and we can schedule a time to see you.

Diet

We encourage you to drink lots of liquids and maintain a soft diet. Avoid hot liquids as this may prematurely dissolve the blood clot. Do not drink alcohol as this can have compounding effects with pain medicine and may alter the effects of other prescribed medications. We recommend foods that are soft, thick, and creamy for the first 5 to 7 days. Avoid popcorn and all seedy type food (e.g., raspberries) and any other food that may easily get caught in the extraction sites. Avoid spitting, using straws for liquids, and smoking for at least one week following the surgery.

Irrigation Syringe

Beginning 5 days after surgery, use the enclosed syringe to clean out the extraction site.

To use: stand in front of a mirror and pull back your cheek to see the surgery site. With warm water in the syringe, place the tip near the surgery site and rinse. This should be done after meals and at bedtime as long as debris accumulates in the area.

Medications

Prescriptions should be taken as directed. They are prescribed to provide pain control. As healing occurs the pain will decrease. As the pain decreases you may decrease the frequency of taking the pain medication.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE TAKING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND ARE PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ANTIBIOTICS CAN DECREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR UP TO 30 DAYS.

Oral Hygiene/Mouthwash

As soon as possible, brush your teeth gently. Brush on the tops of teeth only as you near the surgical sites with your toothbrush. Continue to brush your teeth and keep your mouth as clean as possible. A prescription-strength mouth rinse has been prescribed. Start the mouth rinse 48 hours after surgery.

Physical Activity

No activity that increases your heart rate should be performed for the first 5 days following surgery. The incidence of "dry socket" increases when physical activity is performed that raises your heart rate.

Stitches (Sutures)

Your stitches have been placed to control bleeding and encourage healing. These dissolve on their own in 10 to 14 days.

Swelling

Swelling to some extent follows nearly every tooth extraction. This is nature's way of beginning the healing process. The swelling is often quite severe after the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. An ice pack applied intermittently for up to 48 hours may help to reduce the swelling. The swelling will usually reach a maximum in 36 to 48 hours. Note: Please do not blow your nose for one week after having upper wisdom teeth removed, as this can lead to healing complications.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR ANY CONCERNS, PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE (406) 752-4375.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE FILLED OR REFILLED DURING OFFICE HOURS ONLY SO WE ARE ABLE TO VERIFY OFFICE RECORDS.

Can you brush your teeth the morning before wisdom teeth surgery?

Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. You may brush your teeth and swish with a small amount of water to rinse.

What should you not do before getting wisdom teeth removed?

Before general anesthesia or IV sedation.
If you have been scheduled to have general anesthesia for your surgery it is essential that you do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before surgery. ... .
Do not smoke or ingest alcoholic beverages for at least 8 hours prior to surgery..

Can you brush your teeth before anesthesia surgery?

You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a small sip of water, but do not swallow any of it. If you have been told to take medicine the day of surgery, take them with just a small sip of water. Stop smoking for at least twenty-four (24) hours before surgery.

What should I do the morning before wisdom teeth removal?

If you are scheduled to have intravenous sedation: You may not have anything to eat or drink for 8 hours before your appointment. For morning surgery, no food or liquids after midnight the night before surgery. Clear liquids (anything you can see through) may be taken up to 4 hours before surgery.