You’ve heard it before, that exercise is good for your overall health. One of the best ways to do exercise is to make it a priority, Here at Sue Walker Dentistry, a dentist in Milwaukee OR, we like to say exercise is a lot like brushing your teeth. Make it part of your routine for optimal health.
But what about when our teeth have work done to them? Is it a good idea to exercise then? If you have had your wisdom teeth or third molars removed, maybe you are wondering if you can exercise afterwards.
Getting you wisdom teeth removed is considered oral surgery, which means that complications can arise if you do not allow your mouth to properly heal. If you enjoy exercising, after a surgery you may be chopping at the bit right after any type of surgery, but it is important to take proper measures. This will ensure a speedy recovery. If you are an avid athlete or plan on engaging in exercise shortly after having your teeth removed, here are tips for you.
How soon can I exercise after Surgery?
Depending on the type of surgery and the method you get done, will depend on the type of exercise you can do. If you were sedated during your procedure, you may not want to do much movement; you most likely will feel tired for the day and hours after the procedure. For your safety it is important to listen to your body. Some side effects to watch out for are lethargy and numbness. So be carful with the exercises you choose.
These side effects of almost all oral surgery can make exercise a little more challenging. Dr. Sue Chadwick Walker recommends that you wait at least 24 hours after wisdom teeth removal to allow full recovery before you do any type of exercise. The gum area and sockets where the teeth were extracted may bleed for many hours after a surgery. And it is important to allow full recovery.
If you do proceed and want to exercise soon after a surgery, you may find that the bleeding has not stopped, stop the movement and allow yourself more time before engaging in any type of physical activity again.
What Exercise is Best?
After any type of surgery, it is a good idea to do an Exercise that is extremely low-impact. This is because your mouth will feel the impact from high impact movements. And it will feel the brunt of this types of movement. Even if the bleeding has stopped and the pain is minimal, always remember that your mouth is still healing.
Strength training is recommended after surgery vs high impact workouts. Sitting in place and doing range of motion exercises will still help bring your heart rate up but not provide the jarring effects of intense exercise.
After surgery be careful what you do. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot has been dislodged or broken open. This exposes the nerves and bone inside the gums, leading to extreme pain. If you bite down to hard or jaw is affected by a sudden movement, you could dislodge the dry socket. Other complications include swelling, bleeding and pain.
In general, take it easy for the first 12-24 hours after an oral surgery. Visit Dr. Walker for more details.
