Wisdom tooth extraction surgery is a common procedure. The American Dental Association (ADA) lists a variety of reasons for wisdom tooth removal, including tooth pain, infection, damage to neighboring teeth, cysts, and more.
One of the most intriguing methods of preparing for wisdom tooth surgery recovery involves a 2021 TikTok hack that had people drinking pineapple juice before surgery in the hopes of reducing pain and inflammation post-op.
Given that the surgery requires anesthesia and that recovery can take several days, it's understandable to want to do everything possible to ensure a quick and easy recovery.
Wisdom Tooth Surgery
The surgery's goal is to help prevent complications such as tooth pain and infections that can occur if those teeth are left in your mouth.
For the procedure, you will be sedated. An oral surgeon will then make an incision in your gums to expose the tooth and bone, remove the connective tissue around the tooth and bone, extract the tooth, and stitch the wound closed.
Dentists are frequently required to remove bone and even cut teeth. That is, to say the least, traumatic.
Following surgery, you may experience swelling, bleeding, discomfort, and bruising for a few days, but everyone reacts differently to the procedure.
Pineapple Juice and Reducing Swelling
Pineapple contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain. People claim that drinking a lot of it should help reduce swelling and pain after surgery.
A study published in Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in July 2021 compared the use of 500 mg of bromelain (twice per day) to 50 mg of diclofenac sodium (three times per day) in treating swelling and pain for five days after wisdom tooth surgery.
The researchers of the July 2021 study discovered that those who used bromelain had higher pain scores, swelling, and trismus (lockjaw). Nonetheless, there was no statistically significant difference in the effects of the surgeries between the two treatments.
They didn't have pineapple juice; instead, they had bromelain extract. Furthermore, most studies have focused on the effects of bromelain after wisdom tooth surgery rather than before.
There is some evidence that bromelain can act as a mild anti-inflammatory. Take this in context, however. Pineapple juice has a high acidity level. This will actually cause an inflammatory cascade in your mouth.
This means that the juice will not make your mouth feel better before surgery; instead, it will most likely make your mouth hurt more.
If you try this hack after your surgery, the acid in the pineapple may react to the wounds in your mouth, causing excruciating pain.
Risks
While drinking pineapple juice is generally safe, a few things can go wrong. One is that TikTok users advised you to consume 64 ounces of pineapple juice before your wisdom tooth surgery—a lot.
Your body must process a lot of sugar in the juice quickly, or you will experience severe energy spikes and crashes, making you feel terrible. There is also the possibility of stomach pain. Stomach pain, heartburn, and diarrhea are all possible symptoms.
Finally, if you drink pineapple juice, you may be jeopardizing your oral health. Sugar and acid can both harm your teeth by causing cavities and weakened enamel. That is why you should brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water after drinking pineapple juice or other similar drinks.
Set Yourself Up for a Successful Recovery
To help reduce swelling after surgery, one of the best things you can do is take an NSAID like Motrin or Aleve. That also works well for pain. If you can reduce the swelling, you should also be able to reduce the pain.
Applying ice to the side of your face can help reduce swelling and pain. You should use ice for the first day or so, then switch to a warm compress later.
Gargles with saltwater or hydrogen peroxide can also help with swelling; however, these should not be swallowed. Instead, you should rinse your mouth a few days after surgery or as directed by the provider who performed the surgery.
