I recently had both of my bottom wisdom teeth removed as they were starting to be problematic for the last year and it had to be done. Thankfully the surgery went really well and my surgeon was very careful since my teeth were badly impacted and extremely close to the nerve. I was put under local anesthesia which made me feel very comfortable, no pain and I have no memory from the actual surgery. Local and general anesthesia liberates us from the excruciating pain of surgery. Without it, doctors wouldn’t be able to perform any surgeries—big or small, it is an essential part of modern medicine. After the surgery, I highly recommend doing a laser treatment and ozone therapy. These treatments reduce pain, swelling, accelerate healing, prevent infections and help jaw bone heal properly after extractions. Ozone is especially helpful in preventing dry sockets.
Make sure to really rest and sleep elevated on your back and avoid the sides. Ice consistently, I used bags of frozen peas and a special face mask but the peas worked better. On the 4th day, my dentist suggested to alternate ice packs and warm compresses. You may apply warm compresses to the skin over the areas of swelling (hot water bottle, hot moist towels, heating pad) for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off to help soothe tender areas. This will also help decrease swelling and stiffness.
If there is any bleeding: I used a few drops of clove oil with a little water on a gauze pad and placed it over the wounds for 2-3 minutes when I experienced bleeding. The bleeding was mostly on day 2. Don’t rinse with salt water excessivly because the more you swish around in the mouth, the more it will bleed. The gauze was the most helpful to stop the bleeding.
It is very important to avoid straws, alcohol, saturated fats, hot foods, too much animal protein and dairy for the first few days. I basically stuck to a plant based diet with the addition of beef and chicken bone broths to help with healing my gut after all the meds. Get a lymphatic drainage massage if you can which will help to eliminate toxins from the body and reduce inflammation. Most importantly, rest, sleep, avoid stress, stay positive and get back to your regular routine slowly and when you feel ready.
How to Detox from Anesthesia / Supplements for Post Surgery
Strong Probiotic – Most surgery patients receive antibiotic treatment, which disrupts the gut flora and may create fungal disorders, digestive problems, and diarrhea. I take Vivomixx 450 in Europe or VSL #3 450 billion in the States (can be ordered from pharmacy). 1 satchet on an empty stomach in AM and 2 pills of Bio Kult Candea morning and night) make sure to take two hours away from taking antibiotics. This will help restore gut flora and fight yeast infection which is a common side effect when taking antibiotics.
Milk Thistle – This is a well-known liver cleansing supplement due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes the body’s detoxification process by preventing the depletion of glutathione, a natural antioxidant found in the liver. The concentration of this antioxidant is reduced when you’re exposed to chemicals, including anesthetics. When glutathione levels decline, liver cells become more susceptible to damage. Start taking it one week before surgery and continue to take it for at least two weeks afterward.
Vitamin b6 – This vitamin helps reduce post-surgical fluid retention, such as swelling of the face and jaw area. It aids in the reduction of inflammation for quick recovery. Take 250mg twice a day for a week after the surgery.
Bromelain – It’s a group of enzymes found in pineapple juice and in the pineapple stem. You can take it in a pill form or by mixing pineapple into your smoothies. Just keep in mind that it’s acidic and may hurt the wounds if you have it on your own so I don’t recommend that. Bromelain helps the body to produce substances that fight pain, swelling, bruising, and healing time after surgery. It is a great supplement that reduces inflammation.
Arnica Montana 200c – This is a mountain extract that has been used for many years to alleviate the soft tissue trauma from surgery. It helps with bruising, tissue pain, and wounds. Make sure you pop the pellets in your mouth and don’t touch them. Take 3 pellets 3x a day for 3 days.
Vitamin C – It is known that vitamin C helps to promote and support proper wound healing. It plays an essential role in collagen formation, strengthening the immune system and tissue antioxidant.1 pack a day of Liposomal Vitamin C is the best.
Zinc – Zinc contains enzymes that play a vital role in the immune system and can reduce inflammation, bacterial growth, and scar tissue creation. It can help speed up the healing of surgical incisions. Take 50mg a day.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids – It reduces inflammation and has an anti-inflammatory effect, which promotes wound healing, and enhances the adaptive immune response. Take 2,000–3,000 mg for two weeks post surgery.
Buffered Magnesium Chelate – (glycinate form) Take 2 capsules of 300mg before bed, it helps with sleep and helps bowel function. The strong pain killers and anesthesia can cause constipation so this is a great supplement for that. Magnesium buffered chelates are better tolerated and less likely to promote gastrointestinal discomfort. Another product you can try if constipation occurs is Milk of Magnesia before bed!
If I had to choose a shorter list of these they would be the magnesium, milk thistle, vitamin C, omega 3 and arnica.
Foods to Eat and Avoid
The day of my surgery, I was only able to have bone broth and a very light soup. Make sure it’s not too hot and closer to room temperature. I had no sensation until very late in the evening so it’s important not to burn yourself and your incisions. Second day I continues with a celery juice, detox smoothie, more soups, bone broth, a vegan based coconut kefir for the gut and water infused with cucumber and mint. Avoid citrus fruits or tomatoes at first as the acidity can bother the wounds. They say you can eat soft foods right away but I couldn’t even open my mouth more than one inch. The pain in my jaw and throat was severe and I could barely talk. Every case is different so listen to your body and eat soft solid foods when you feel ready. I also bought goat kefir as it’s much more potent than regular yogurt and has antibacterial properties but waited 3-4 days until I could have it. My doctor said to avoid dairy as it could interfere with a bacteria in the mouth and cause an infection while the wounds are really fresh. Cinnamon and turmeric will also help you detox and recover from anesthesia. In addition, you should eat foods rich in sulfur, which helps the liver clear toxins, including garlic, onions, and yolks. You can add these to soups so they are blended and easier to consume. Rinse mouth with water and baking soda after each meal but do it very gently and try not to spit out but softly tilt your head forward and let the water come out.
My go to smoothie during my recovery was this anti inflammatory pineapple
- Half cup coconut water
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup pineapple
- 1/2 pear (alternate between banana/pear/mango)
- large handful of spinach
- 3 tbsp cilantro
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 tbsp spirulina
- 1 date (optional)
Some days I added avocado (fiber and healthy fats), spirulina or almond butter for protein.
- Pineapples contain bromelain, a digestive enzyme that can reduce inflammation, swelling, pain, and bruising after surgery and even speed up recovery after strenuous exercise. It boosts immunity and lowers the risk of bacterial and viral infections.
- Avocado is a good substitute for a banana in a smoothie. It provides a creamy texture, extra fiber and healthy fats without the extra carbs.
- Coconut water is packed with electrolytes and antioxidants, helps to prevent kidney stones and supports heart health.
- Cilantro is great for cleansing from toxins. binds onto heavy metals so you can safely eliminate them from your liver and body.
When making your smoothies, be sure to avoid seeds and any fruits with seeds such as blackberries or strawberries.
Try having puréed soups like cauliflower, broccoli, leafy greens, lentils, green peas. Three of my fave soups were this green soup, the sweet potato and white bean soup and roasted beet soup. On day 5, I started having thicker pureed foods like sweet potato purée, cauliflower mash, and high fiber, low carb oatmeal.
Drink teas to help with the elimination of toxins:
- Burdock Tea
- Nettle Leaf Tea
- Dandelion Tea
- Hibiscus Tea
- Licorice Tea
Detox Foods Quoted From Medical Medium:
- Apples provide an active living water that hydrates the liver and supports the liver’s ability to hydrate your body. Apples also starve bacteria, yeast and mold out of the intestinal tract and liver. In doing so they keep sludge out of the gallbladder. Apples can also dissolve gallstones. Eat one to three apples a day (or more) if you can.
- Artichokes contain phytochemical compounds that inhibit the development of tumors and cysts in the liver. Artichokes also contain many chemical functions that help the liver neutralize toxins before they get to the brain or heart. They help the liver screen and filter your blood.
- Asparagus is high in flavonoids and powerful anti-inflammatory compounds—they’re like a natural aspirin. They also expel and dislodge fat cells and other poisons. Asparagus cleanses, detoxifies and soothes the liver.
- Bananas are antibacterial, anti-yeast, antifungal foods. The fructose in bananas provides a quick fuel for the liver—it’s one of the organ’s favorite food sources. Bananas also sooth the lining of the intestinal tract.
- Berries are a rich medicine chest for the liver. Your liver contains a type of cell known as Kupffer cells, and wild blueberries especially contain the kinds of antioxidants those kuppfer cells need. Raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are all powerful healing foods for your liver.
- Brussels sprouts are an ultimate liver cleansing food. You can eat them raw, steam them or even juice them. Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables have a special sulfur that expels poisons and pathogens from your liver.
- Celery contains undiscovered subgroups of sodium that I call cluster salts. These cluster salts protect liver cell membranes. They strip the cells of viruses down and bind onto free floating poisons. Drinking sixteen ounces of pure celery juice with nothing added on an empty stomach every morning is a powerful way to cleanse your liver.
- Cilantro binds onto heavy metals so you can safely eliminate them from your liver and body. Cilantro also contains phytochemical compounds that cling to other troublemakers, such as neurotoxins and dermatoxins, which end up in our livers. Cilantro is another liver cleanser.
- Cranberries do many jobs for the liver. They cleanse the deep parts of the liver. The harsh fruit acid in cranberries kills pathogens. They also have a tremendous amount of vitamin C that steps the oxidation of cells.
- Cucumbers are an ally for the liver. They provide a hydrating liver water just like apples. Cucumbers also cleanse the liver.
- Dandelion greens trigger a squeezing action in the liver that helps it release toxins.
- Lemons and limes improve hydrochloric acid (HCL) production in the stomach. They also cleanse fatty livers and help dissolve gallstones.
- Melons are an incredibly powerful cleansing food that also have the ability to hydrate the liver. It’s ideal to have melons early in the day and not after eating something heavy.
- Peaches remove old deep-seated poisons, debris and putrefied food in your small intestinal tract, which helps your liver get better.
- Oranges and tangerines provide a wealth of calcium and vitamin C that the liver can use since it’s combined with the glucose in the fruit.
- Raw honey contains a combination of the sugars that the liver needs along with the minerals, vitamins and nutrients that restore the liver.
- Tomatoes harness critical phytochemicals, micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that support the liver. The fruit acid in a tomato also helps the gallbladder eliminate some of the sludge that can sit in the bottom of the gallbladder.