Save Your Teen the Trouble During School!

As your child ages, their mouth goes through a wide variety of changes. Baby teeth erupt, permanent teeth take their place, and in some cases, additional teeth start to appear that their mouth cannot accommodate. For example, wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can start to appear as early as 18 years of age and as late as 25. When they do appear, it’s very important that we pay close attention to them.

Alternatively, if your child starts to experience pain in the back of their mouth, it’s a possible sign that their erupting wisdom teeth are causing stress on their existing teeth, roots, and gum tissue. In this instance, the next best step is to schedule wisdom tooth removal with our office.

In our July newsletter, Blue Coast Dental recommends parents to have their child’s wisdom tooth removal scheduled during the summer months over any other time during the year, largely because it’s more convenient for you and your child. By the end of our newsletter, you’ll understand why now is the best time of the year to get your child’s wisdom tooth removal out of the way.

More Time to Recuperate

It’s no secret that following a wisdom tooth extraction, your child is going to need to take some time off to heal. The last thing they should be doing is exerting themselves, whether it’s through physical activity or going to classes. During the summer season when your child is more likely to be out of school, they’ll be able to dedicate more of their time to healing.

Depending on the extent of your child’s treatment, healing can take as many as three to four days. In some cases, it can take as long as one week! With your child not having to worry about the same obligations they might have when school is in session, they can focus on getting plenty of rest, eating a soft diet and making sure that their tooth socket heals properly.

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Less Time Out of School

As mentioned, healing after a wisdom tooth removal procedure can take up to a week to complete. As your child heals, the last thing they should have to worry about is studying for a major test that’s coming up or worrying about practicing for their team’s next big game. In neither of these situations should they be exerting too much energy, which detracts from their healing.

Additionally, your child is not going to be able to attend school after their appointment, so it’s better to get them treated now instead of missing multiple days of classes that will inevitably force them to play catch up over the next couple of weeks.

How to Speed Up the Healing Process

The number-one priority after a wisdom tooth extraction is fast and effective healing. By following these basic steps, your child will be back to their old smiling self in no time! Take note of these steps below:

Immediately following the surgery, have them bite down on a gauze pad in the extraction area for at least 30 minutes. Apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce swelling. Apply for 15 minutes then remove for an additional 15 minutes.
Do not brush teeth next to the extraction site.
Do not rinse your mouth out or drink hot drinks over the next 24 hours.
Do not eat food that requires chewing.
Do not suck on straws, smoke, or drink alcohol for at least 24 hours.
After 24 hours, do rinse your mouth out with an antiseptic mouthwash
Keep the wound clean by rinsing your mouth with warm water and salt. This can help soothe sore gums.
Keep the head elevated when sleeping to improve comfort and healing.

At Blue Coast Dental, we want to help your child get on the path to healing as soon as possible. To prevent any hiccups in their recuperation or schooling, schedule an appointment during the summer season today. We’d be more than happy to fit them into our schedule and protect their oral health!

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