After having teeth extracted it may be tempting to want to head right back to the pool, especially if one is a competive swimmer. However, if you had teeth extracted, it is possible your dentist or oral surgeon cut part of the gum or even given you stitches to close the hole where your tooth was.
Having a tooth extracted can potentially result in an infection. Going in a pool or a lake may cause bacteria to enter the wound. Particulary if one surbmerges their face in the water. Therefore, it’s best it is best to wait until the wound is healed to go back in the water.
If you had wisdom teeth surgery, you should wait at least 2 weeks before swimming. For single-tooth non wisdom tooth extractions, 24 to 48 hours may be enough time for the wound to begin its healing process. The surgical sites need time to heal completely to form a protective blood clot. If you swim too soon this can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a dry socket. A dry socket can be very painful and can lead to bleeding and further complications. Swimming can also increase blood pressure and swelling, which can delay healing.
Image by Silviu on the street from Pixabay
If there are any questions about when it is safe to swim after wisdom teeth surgery, it is best to consult with a dentist or oral surgeon.
Below are some handy tips to help you stay safe when returning swimming after wisdom teeth surgery:
- Avoid submerging your face in pool water or a lake.
- Wait at least 2 weeks after the wisdom teeth extraction before swimming.
- Rinse your mouth with water when done with swimming to remove any chlorine or chemicals.
- Make sure stiches are completely healed before swimming.
- If any pain, swelling, redness, or bleeding occurs during or after swimming, stop and consult with your dentist or oral surgeon.
Thanksfuly there are steps you can take to help speed up the recovery process after tooth extractions. This includes rinsing your mouth with warm, salty water a few times a day and brushing your teeth (while avoiding the extraction area) to remove food debris and bacteria that can accumulate in the mouth.