Wisdom tooth removal creates open wounds in the mouth where the teeth were extracted. These sites must form and maintain a protective blood clot, which is the foundation of the healing process. Adhering to specific post-operative restrictions safeguards this clot, prevents painful complications like dry socket, and ensures a rapid recovery. For the first few days, success depends entirely on what activities you strictly avoid.
Restrictions on Eating and Drinking
The most immediate restrictions concern what you put into your mouth and how you ingest it. You cannot use a straw for drinking, especially in the first 48 to 72 hours, because the suction creates a negative pressure that can easily dislodge the protective blood clot from the socket. This exposes the underlying bone and nerves, resulting in a painful condition known as alveolar osteitis, or dry socket.
Avoid excessively hot beverages and foods, such as hot coffee or soup, as the heat can increase swelling and disrupt the initial clotting process. Carbonated drinks should be avoided, as the bubbles can irritate the surgical site. The diet must be limited to soft, cool foods, and you cannot eat anything crunchy, chewy, or sharp, like chips, nuts, popcorn, or sticky candies. These types of foods pose a risk of either irritating the wound or getting lodged into the extraction site, which introduces bacteria and interferes with healing.
Lifestyle Habits to Pause
Certain lifestyle habits must be paused because they introduce harmful chemicals or significantly alter the body’s pressure and blood flow. You cannot smoke or use any tobacco products, including vaping, for a minimum of 48 to 72 hours, and ideally for a week or longer. Tobacco use poses a dual risk: the sucking motion creates the same clot-disrupting suction as a straw, and the chemicals restrict blood flow, delaying healing. Smokers have a higher risk of developing a dry socket.
You must not engage in strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for at least 3 to 5 days following the procedure. Vigorous exercise raises your heart rate and blood pressure, which can increase bleeding at the surgical site and disrupt the clot. Light activities, such as walking, are permitted after the first 24 hours, but anything that causes you to strain or sweat should be avoided.
Alcohol consumption is prohibited for at least 48 hours. Alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of prescribed pain medication and thin the blood, increasing the risk of bleeding at the surgical site. Abstaining from alcohol ensures your body can focus on healing without risking dangerous drug interactions.
Actions That Disturb the Healing Site
Actions involving the mouth must be avoided as they directly threaten the integrity of the blood clot. You cannot spit forcefully. Like using a straw, forceful spitting creates negative pressure inside the mouth that can pull the clot out of the socket. If you need to clear your mouth, let the liquid or saliva dribble into the sink.
Vigorous rinsing or swishing is prohibited, particularly during the first 24 hours. After the first day, you may gently rinse with a warm saltwater solution, but avoid aggressive movements that might dislodge the clot. Additionally, you must not probe the extraction site with your fingers, a toothpick, or your tongue.
You cannot chew food directly on the side of the mouth where the extraction occurred. This prevents food particles from entering the wound and avoids applying force that could compromise the clot. While oral hygiene remains important, avoid brushing the immediate surgical area for the first 24 hours to allow the clot to form. After this initial period, you can gently brush the surrounding teeth, taking care not to make contact with the wound.