Safe OTC and Homeopathic treatments for use after wisdom teeth removal.
May 15, 2010 10:05 AM Subscribe
You are not my doctor or my dentist, but what over the counter and homeopathic products are reasonably safe to use after wisdom tooth extraction?
I am 28 and just had all four of my wisdom teeth removed 24 hours ago. Two teeth were impacted, one was partially erupted, and one had a giant cavity in it. The doctor has me on Tylenol-3, Ibuprofen 600mg, and Dexamethasone 1mg, for the first two days. The doctor gave me these basic instructions: no solid foods for two days, salt water rinse, cold press first day, warm press next two days, get lots of sleep, and drink adequate fluid.
I stopped bleeding around six hours after surgery, but I had a sneezing fit almost every time I stood up. I fear that this may be manifesting in a dry socket but I won't be able to tell for another day.
Is there anything else I can do to help the process along? When I was a young lass and had a tongue pierced and my piercer suggested pineapple juice (to combat swelling) and and gly-oxide to keep the area clean. My sister who has had a variety or oral piercings also suggested biotene mouthwash as it is less aggressive and drying than regular mouth washes. Are biotene or gly-oxide safe to use after surgery?
Also, I am an avid tea drinker, and now that I am in the warm heat part of the healing process are there any teas that could be beneficial (or detrimental) over the next couple days?
I am 28 and just had all four of my wisdom teeth removed 24 hours ago. Two teeth were impacted, one was partially erupted, and one had a giant cavity in it. The doctor has me on Tylenol-3, Ibuprofen 600mg, and Dexamethasone 1mg, for the first two days. The doctor gave me these basic instructions: no solid foods for two days, salt water rinse, cold press first day, warm press next two days, get lots of sleep, and drink adequate fluid.
I stopped bleeding around six hours after surgery, but I had a sneezing fit almost every time I stood up. I fear that this may be manifesting in a dry socket but I won't be able to tell for another day.
Is there anything else I can do to help the process along? When I was a young lass and had a tongue pierced and my piercer suggested pineapple juice (to combat swelling) and and gly-oxide to keep the area clean. My sister who has had a variety or oral piercings also suggested biotene mouthwash as it is less aggressive and drying than regular mouth washes. Are biotene or gly-oxide safe to use after surgery?
Also, I am an avid tea drinker, and now that I am in the warm heat part of the healing process are there any teas that could be beneficial (or detrimental) over the next couple days?
Your dentist probably has already given you better advice than I can, but here goes anyway.
Most important: Don't suck. On anything not straws, not soup spoons, cigarettes. If you're real worried, don't even sip on tea cups or water glasses; pour the fluid into your mouth. And keep your tongue away from that area too (harder than it sounds, right?)
Beyond that, cold water just held in the mouth helps a lot. Ice would be good, but I at least am incapable of having an ice cube in my mouth without sucking on it.
Then what jessamyn said about tea bags. Green tea works well too, and you can just soak cotton pads in it and place them over the area. It's important to make very sure that there are no little leaves on the outside of tea bag or on the swab to get into the socket.
Homeopathic remedies are always perfectly safe -- and totally useless. Search MeFi for the many discussions.
posted by Some1 at 10:31 AM on May 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
Most important: Don't suck. On anything not straws, not soup spoons, cigarettes. If you're real worried, don't even sip on tea cups or water glasses; pour the fluid into your mouth. And keep your tongue away from that area too (harder than it sounds, right?)
Beyond that, cold water just held in the mouth helps a lot. Ice would be good, but I at least am incapable of having an ice cube in my mouth without sucking on it.
Then what jessamyn said about tea bags. Green tea works well too, and you can just soak cotton pads in it and place them over the area. It's important to make very sure that there are no little leaves on the outside of tea bag or on the swab to get into the socket.
Homeopathic remedies are always perfectly safe -- and totally useless. Search MeFi for the many discussions.
posted by Some1 at 10:31 AM on May 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
Seconding Some1's assessment of homeopathy.
The best thing you could really do is a warm salt water rinse after each meal, if not more often. I recently had a root canal done on the back molar and the gums were very bruised and the tooth quite tender for the first four days or so. I was getting frustrated, but many many dental sites recommended salt water rinses. So I tried it, and within a day or so, the tooth was no longer tender or tasted of blood. I'm not entirely sure of the mechanics of it--I know it helps keep the area clean far better than brushing does.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:45 AM on May 15, 2010
The best thing you could really do is a warm salt water rinse after each meal, if not more often. I recently had a root canal done on the back molar and the gums were very bruised and the tooth quite tender for the first four days or so. I was getting frustrated, but many many dental sites recommended salt water rinses. So I tried it, and within a day or so, the tooth was no longer tender or tasted of blood. I'm not entirely sure of the mechanics of it--I know it helps keep the area clean far better than brushing does.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:45 AM on May 15, 2010
Response by poster: My bleeding has subsided, but I will give the tea bags a shot. I had some earl grey this morning . As for homeopathic remedies I was looking for teas and such that might reduce swelling and pain. I don't really want to go out and buy a bottle of magical berry extract 75 in the hope that it will cure what ails me. With respect to Some1's comment I can't agree completely, as I believe that homeopathic cures rarely work, and sometimes they can be dangerous. Usually, I like some degree of clinical trial with my homeopathic cures, or at least a strong evidence of safety. However, I have also seen wormwood extract actually cure intestinal worms, and I don't know what I have would have done before my neti pot.
Salt rinses have been working and I am trying to not suck or spit anything as it may disrupt my precious sockets. But I am still on the fence about the using the gly-oxide. Does anyone know if it is too strong and not safe to use at this point?
posted by kscottz at 11:24 AM on May 15, 2010
Salt rinses have been working and I am trying to not suck or spit anything as it may disrupt my precious sockets. But I am still on the fence about the using the gly-oxide. Does anyone know if it is too strong and not safe to use at this point?
posted by kscottz at 11:24 AM on May 15, 2010
I think you are confusing homeopathy with naturopathy.
You might also want to ask your pharmacist about possible interactions with the drugs you are already taking, if you can't get a hold of your dentist/doctor. Some naturopathic (not homeopathic) remedies may put extra stress on the organs that are already dealing with the painkillers you're taking, which you would obviously want to avoid. A pharmacist can advise you on this.
posted by different at 11:37 AM on May 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
You might also want to ask your pharmacist about possible interactions with the drugs you are already taking, if you can't get a hold of your dentist/doctor. Some naturopathic (not homeopathic) remedies may put extra stress on the organs that are already dealing with the painkillers you're taking, which you would obviously want to avoid. A pharmacist can advise you on this.
posted by different at 11:37 AM on May 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Exactly what different says. Homeopathy is a very specific pseudo-scientific process, and has nothing to do with natural medicine.
posted by Tooty McTootsalot at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by Tooty McTootsalot at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2010
I think they make some squirty-water things to keep food out of the new holes in your gums. Use them.
posted by radioamy at 12:05 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by radioamy at 12:05 PM on May 15, 2010
Response by poster: Oops, I forgot that there are some very large distinctions between all the alternative medicine practices. I apologize for not being as pedantic as possible while doped up. My internal dictionary defines homeopathy as the set union of stuff my great grandmother would tell me to do, and stuff suggested by the Earth Mother type at the food co-op. My internal dictionary entries have been updated accordingly.
Back to the question at hand, does anyone have any suggested teas/foods to expedite healing? Does anyone have any experience using gly-oxide after wisdom tooth removal?
posted by kscottz at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2010
Back to the question at hand, does anyone have any suggested teas/foods to expedite healing? Does anyone have any experience using gly-oxide after wisdom tooth removal?
posted by kscottz at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2010
Best answer: Chamomile infusion has anti inflamatory and mild sedative properties. It's what I'd use in your case. It has also been used to heal wounds and mouth ulcers.
posted by clearlydemon at 12:40 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by clearlydemon at 12:40 PM on May 15, 2010
Best answer: It doesn't sound like pain is a problem for you, at least not right now, but if you do Clove Oil is the go to natural remedy for toothpain - especially dry socket. Its antimicrobial and antifungal properties would probably be helpful too. It tastes absolutely awful but it works.
My dentist recommended clove oil to me when I had problems with painkillers and dry socket over a long holiday weekend (painkillers made me puke, puking gave me dry socket). So before anyone could prescribe me anything new/pack the dry socket he suggested I could apply clove oil to the area.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 12:42 PM on May 15, 2010
My dentist recommended clove oil to me when I had problems with painkillers and dry socket over a long holiday weekend (painkillers made me puke, puking gave me dry socket). So before anyone could prescribe me anything new/pack the dry socket he suggested I could apply clove oil to the area.
posted by radiomayonnaise at 12:42 PM on May 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jessamyn at 10:06 AM on May 15, 2010 [1 favorite]