Anonymous wrote:Pineapple juice was recommended to us so we had DS do that. There is research supporting it. Also get the injection that decreases the need for pain meds. Insurance didn't cover it, but worth it. Our son had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed and recovery was easy. He only needed Tylenol for 3 days-no major pain meds. We made sure he was diligent with cleaning the area shooting salt water with a syringe if I recall correctly and he iced the first day. We kept him on mushy foods a day extra just to be safe.

Re: tylenol-it was really the first day where we had to give it him. His discomfort was so mild the next 2 days and I think he had maybe one dose each day-normal dose, not prescription dose.

Pineapple juice was recommended to us so we had DS do that. There is research supporting it. Also get the injection that decreases the need for pain meds. Insurance didn't cover it, but worth it. Our son had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed and recovery was easy. He only needed Tylenol for 3 days-no major pain meds. We made sure he was diligent with cleaning the area shooting salt water with a syringe if I recall correctly and he iced the first day. We kept him on mushy foods a day extra just to be safe.

I had to have serious jaw surgery when I was a kid and: chicken broth or egg drop soup was the best. A lot of soft foods tend to be sweet so having something salty helped calm my stomach (pain meds tend to make me sick to my stomach).

Just follow the doctor's instructions. They'll be fine.

My kids oral surgeon said the pineapple juice thing was an urban legend - no clinical evidence that it works.

Anonymous wrote:Drink pineapple juice if you like it, but it doesn't do anything for your health or recovery.
On the advice of a friend, my son iced his face every hour for three days after the surgery and it made a world of difference in his recovery. I bought a bunch of soft foods for him to eat during recovery. Pudding, yogurt, scrambled eggs, etc. Don't eat anything with hard bits or grit in it.

All night? My kids were pretty recovered by day 2 without this effort Icing was mostly the day of.

Don't swish unless doc tells you to. And how. Dislodging the clot leads to painful dry socket and hasty visit back to doc.

Don’t drink through a straw!

(It can dislodge the clots, causing big time problems /pain)

Follow the recovery instructions exactly. Use the products (rinse, spray, etc.) before and after as directed. Get or devise an ice holder. Use real ice, not cold packs.

Get the long lasting pain block shot.

Drink pineapple juice if you like it, but it doesn't do anything for your health or recovery.
On the advice of a friend, my son iced his face every hour for three days after the surgery and it made a world of difference in his recovery. I bought a bunch of soft foods for him to eat during recovery. Pudding, yogurt, scrambled eggs, etc. Don't eat anything with hard bits or grit in it.

Swishing lukewarm salt water gently in your mouth.

Ice pack holder that goes from the top of the head under the chin so they don't have to hold it with their hands

My kids were really fine by the second day. My DD was absolutely dreading it but said it was much easier than she expected. Ice and pain meds (just ibuprofen) for the first day or so. Soft foods fir the first couple of days ..Whatever they like . We did not get any instructions about sleeping with head elevated.

Take pain meds as prescribed (aka "stay ahead of your pain). Ice packs (this isn't fancy, but it's functional: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FSCLPPI?th=1). Soft foods. No straws, no smoking/vaping. Sleep with your head elevated for a week or more (get a wedge pillow or something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Bedluxe-Orthopedic-Adjustable-Triangle-Sleeping/dp/B0CJC6ML1J). Target sells applesauce packets with mixed fruits/veg that are pretty good, but you'll need to squeeze them, not suck on them (https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=good+%26+gather+applesauce+pouches).

If you're having difficulty controlling the bleeding, they can gently bite on a wet black tea bag. The tannins in tea can help stop simple bleeding. If it doesn't work, it may not be a simple bleed. Bleeding should be minor, if any (mine barely bled for about 2 hours after the extraction).

It's pretty straightforward and your oral surgeon should give you clear instructions. Soft foods without seeds or small bits for the first week or so, like pancakes, mashed potatoes, protein shakes, scrambled eggs...

They'll be fine. Ice, elevation and meds, especially for the first 24-48 hours, that's the trick.

Both of my kids are getting their wisdom teeth out soon. Since it's been 30+ years since I've done it, any advice on helping for an easy recovery? I've heard drinking pineapple juice the week before helps with inflammation? Thanks