How to Swallow After Wisdom Teeth Removal

January 17, 2022 0

If you are one of the many adults who have had their wisdom teeth removed, there are things you should know to help ease your recovery. One of these things is how to swallow after wisdom teeth removal. It can be difficult at first because it may feel like food has lodged in your throat or that something is stuck in your mouth.

There are some steps to take when swallowing after surgery that will make it easier for you. The most important thing is that if it hurts to swallow, do not force yourself. Instead, drink liquids and eat soft foods until the pain subsides or use an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Read on to know more info!

10 Ways on How to Swallow After Wisdom Teeth Removal:

1. Suck Through a Straw.

Sucking on a straw forces your tongue out of the way while you swallow, which will make it easier to eat and drink. It also helps prevent any regurgitation or overflow because you can control how much goes into your mouth at once.

2. Chew Gum.

Chew a piece of Gum or suck on a lollipop to keep your mouth open and encourage swallowing. This is way more effective than eating something crunchy, which will only make you want to chew more. Be sure not to have any food in your mouth while you’re chewing Gum so that it doesn’t get stuck in your teeth.

3. Try Eating Soft Foods.

Soft foods are easy to swallow and don’t require much chewing, which will make it easier for you when trying to eat. They’re also less likely to collect in the spaces created when your wisdom teeth have been removed, so they shouldn’t get stuck anywhere. Soups or oatmeal are great options.

4. Swallow Your Drink First Before Anything Else.

This will help you swallow the food you are eating or drinking, even if it doesn’t go down the way you wanted. This will get anything that may get stuck out of your throat and allow you to continue eating or drinking without any problems.

5. Take Your Time.

It’s better to eat slower than faster since that will give your mouth time to break down the food or drink more effectively. However, if you’re eating too fast, you may accidentally bite off more than what you can chew, leading to choking.

6. Try Different Eating Utensils.

Spoons and forks may be a bit hard to use when you have braces, so try out a plastic set instead. It might take some getting used to, but they make it easier for people with braces to eat certain things.

7. Swish Your Food.

This may be a bit odd at first, but you can make the process of chewing and swallowing easier. Swish your food around in your mouth before you eat it to help break it down a little more.

8. Try Different Eating Techniques.

There are people out there that have had success with eating specific foods or drinks by inverting the process, which means that you do each step in reverse order. For example, some people find it easier to eat crunchy items like chips by swallowing them whole first before chewing and taking a liquid drink after eating them. You can try this technique with other foods as well.

9. Don’t Forget to Drink.

Many people forget that liquids are essential too, but you need to drink to swallow correctly. Without enough saliva or water, your food can become stuck in the back of your throat, causing it to either be regurgitated or choke you. Staying hydrated is key when trying to eat and drink after having your wisdom teeth removed.

10. Ask for Help.

If you or your caregiver has any trouble eating or drinking, then go ahead and ask for help as soon as possible. Some items, such as smoothies, can be too thick to swallow easily, so you might need a straw to drink them instead. Remember that no matter how difficult it seems to swallow things right now, it will get better with time.

Some Tips and Suggestions:

Drink plenty of water during the first 36 hours after surgery. It will help to clear out your mouth, reduce swelling and minimize pain. Also, once you start swallowing solid foods, you will find that it is easier to take small sips of cool or room temperature drinks (not hot) throughout the day.
Eat soft, bland foods the day of surgery and for several days after Jello, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs (without toast), etc. Avoid crunchy or chewy foods like chips, hard pretzels, pizza crusts, bagels, or corn on the cob.
Avoid using straws for drinking (it will hurt your lip), and do not smoke. Smoking can cause problems with wound healing.
Avoid alcoholic beverages for a while. They will make you woozy, and they cause bleeding that can lead to a dry socket, a painful condition where the blood clot at the extraction site is lost too soon. Alcohol also thins your blood, which slows down healing.
Do not rinse or swish anything in your mouth until the next day (this means no mouthwash, etc., for 24 hours). This is to reduce the risk of infection. If you do rinse, don’t swallow and spit it out.
Use ice packs on your cheeks to reduce swelling. You can also purchase an oral appliance that fits over the teeth and is designed to reduce pain and swelling.
Take all of your prescribed medication for pain, even if you feel fine after surgery, so you do not develop a dry socket.

Conclusion:

You should not eat or drink anything for at least 12 hours after your wisdom teeth removal. Eat soft foods and liquids, avoid hard food items like ice cream, applesauce, etc. It’s best to stay away from chewing on the side of the mouth where surgery was performed.

Remember that it is essential to keep up with oral hygiene if you are recovering from removing wisdom teeth because there will be more bacteria present than usual, leading to an infection. We hope this article has been helpful! What other questions do you have about how to swallow after wisdom teeth removal? If we don’t answer them here, feel free to ask us in our comments section below.