Surgery to remove wisdom teeth is often scary and the postoperative recovery period is usually less than pleasant. In addition to difficulty eating and drinking, sore and sore gums make you unable to sleep well. This article describes some tips for dealing with the discomfort of having wisdom teeth removed so you can fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly throughout the night.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Coping and Preventing Postoperative Gum Pain
Step 1. Remove the cotton swab from the mouth
You can choke if you still have cotton in your mouth at night. If the dentist covers the gums with cotton after surgery, carefully remove the cotton swab before going to bed.
You can remove the cotton from your mouth at least hour after the wisdom tooth is removed
Step 2. Take the medicine according to the dose prescribed by the doctor
Most likely, dental surgery makes the gums very painful, especially the first day after surgery. Painkillers are very effective at relieving pain with a duration long enough so that you can sleep well all night.
- Make sure you take pain relievers according to the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
- To prevent postoperative pain, take pain medication while the anesthetic is still working (about 8 hours after surgery).
- You can sleep well if the painkillers work continuously.
Step 3. Drink cool water if you can already drink
Keep your mouth hydrated and avoid bleeding by drinking cool water. Do not consume foods or drinks that make the mouth uncomfortable. Wait until the gum pain subsides and you can drink.
- When drinking, do not use a straw for at least a week after surgery.
- Avoid hot drinks or food during the recovery period. Consume cool soft drinks and foods as directed by your doctor.
Step 4. Treat swollen gums by compressing the cheek using a bag filled with ice
To make it easier to fall asleep, place a bag of ice cubes on your cheek near the newly extracted tooth. Cheek compresses for -1 hour before bed to relieve gum pain.
- Wrap the compress bag in a cloth before placing it on the cheek.
- If you want to sleep less than 1 hour, place a compress on your cheek while you sleep, but don't apply pressure on your cheek for more than 1 hour so that your cheek doesn't freeze.
- The gums and cheeks near the newly extracted teeth should not be exposed to warm objects, let alone hot.
Step 5. Don't brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, and touch injured gums
If touched, the wound may bleed again due to the release of a blood clot from the hole in the gum. Bleeding and sore gums make it difficult to sleep.
If you cover the wound with a cotton swab because the gums are bleeding again, don't forget to remove the cotton from your mouth before going to bed. Wait until the gums don't bleed (at least 30 minutes) before removing the cotton swab and going to bed
Part 2 of 2: Preparing for Sleep
Step 1. Position your head slightly high when lying down to relieve swelling of the gums
Place a few pillows on the bed behind your back so that your torso and head form a 45° angle with the bed. This step is useful for reducing swelling and swelling of the injured gums so you can fall asleep quickly.
- Even if you're not used to sleeping like this, lying with your torso higher than your stomach and holding your head up is very effective at reducing pain naturally before bed.
- Use a pillow that has a thicker one side so that you feel more comfortable sleeping with this posture.
Step 2. Don't lie down on a leather sofa or slippery bedding
Sleeping with your body elevated makes you slide down while you sleep. To get a good night's sleep and not get injured, don't lie down on a leather sofa or other slippery bedding.
Sleeping position like this is still safe if you lie on a bed that is used daily and your head is supported by a pillow
Step 3. Make sure you are comfortable by sleeping in a cool, dark room
Before lying down, turn off all the lights in the room, close the window blinds, and lower the air temperature to cool the room so you can sleep well.
- Setting the air conditioner so that the room temperature ranges from 16-19 ° C is useful for lowering body temperature so that it is easier for you to fall asleep.
- If you put your phone beside the bed, point the phone screen downwards. This method prevents light from illuminating the room when a notification appears on the phone screen.
Step 4. Use aromatherapy so you fall asleep quickly
Several studies have shown that certain scents can relieve stress and improve sleep quality. Take advantage of candles, oils, or air fresheners to make the room atmosphere more pleasant so you can sleep soundly throughout the night.
- Lavender and vanilla are the most effective scents to create a comfortable atmosphere in the bedroom.
- Dipping a cotton swab in perfumed oil is a practical way to use aromatherapy in the bedroom.
- Be careful when lighting candles in the room. Turn off the candles before going to bed.
Step 5. Play some relaxing music to make you feel relaxed
Ignoring gum pain to easily fall asleep is not easy. To distract your mind so your focus changes, listen to soft, soothing music while lying down.
- Slow rhythmic songs are very effective at triggering sleepiness. Play music whose rhythm is 60-80 beats per minute so you can fall asleep easily.
- Lullaby music is usually jazz, classical, and pop genres.
