Everyone gets scared when they find out that they need to undergo wisdom tooth extraction. When wisdom teeth are embedded in the jawbone either partially or completely, they are called impacted wisdom teeth, and they require extraction. Everything related to wisdom teeth makes people anxious because wisdom tooth removal is associated with swelling and pain. Although post-operative pain and swelling can be effectively managed by medications, still from time to time, people come up with their ideas to help in reducing these discomforts. With reference to this, a hack has become viral on the internet, which claims that drinking pineapple juice before wisdom tooth surgery can reduce post-operative pain and swelling and aid in rapid recovery. If you want to know whether the hack actually works or is a false claim and what dentists have to say about it, continue to read this article.
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Pineapple juice before wisdom teeth: What is the hack?
The pineapple juice hack was introduced in a very famous application called “Tik Tok.” A TikTok user shared a video where she showed how drinking pineapple juice before wisdom tooth surgery helped her in reducing post-operative pain and swelling to a greater extent. According to the hack, drinking a full 64 ounces of pineapple juice the night before will help users avoid the terrible days of swelling following surgery. TikTok users who post photos from the days after surgery show a noticeable reduction in swelling. In fact, some people appear to have absolutely no swelling. This is currently a trending hack on the internet.
Pineapple juice hack: What is the science behind it?
There is actually a science behind this pineapple juice hack. Pineapple juice has an enzyme called “bromelain.” This enzyme has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it can help reduce the signs of inflammation, pain, and swelling. The stem and fruit of the pineapple plant are used to make bromelain supplements. It has been used as a substitute for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications in people with osteoarthritis (NSAIDs).
In addition, the use of proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, serratiopeptidase, and bromelain (pineapple enzyme) in the form of pills has been suggested by surgeons as a means of preventing or reducing postoperative complications such as pain, swelling, and restricted mouth opening. Enzyme administration after surgical procedures has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects reducing postoperative problems.
Drinking pineapple juice before wisdom tooth extraction: What do studies say?
There are no studies that can prove that drinking pineapple juice before wisdom tooth extraction surgery can actually reduce postoperative swelling. However, there are studies on the bromelain enzyme which is found in pineapple juice.
One study was done to determine how well the enzyme bromelain controlled pain and swelling following the removal of wisdom teeth surgically. In that study, all patients were given tablets of Bromozyme DT 200 mg BD (two times a day) and antibiotic amoxicillin 500 mg TID (three times a day) for five days following surgery. And they found that in 28 out of 40 instances, bromelain successfully decreased pain and swelling. In addition, a type of wisdom tooth impaction (wisdom tooth embedded in bone) called mesioangular impaction responded better to bromelain as compared to other impactions. Therefore, this study concluded that bromelain is effective in reducing pain and swelling after wisdom tooth surgery. However, it is not universal. It does not work the same for every individual and every case of wisdom tooth. Some might benefit from it; some might not.
Another study which was done for a similar purpose to determine the efficacy of bromelain pills in reducing postoperative discomfort of wisdom tooth surgery shows a similar result. This study reveals that using the right dosage regimen and oral administration of bromelain may reduce postoperative pain and inflammation associated with impacted wisdom teeth. The fact is that in all the studies, the participants were given bromelain pills, not pineapple juice. Moreover, these tablets were given after the surgery, not the night before the surgery. Therefore, there is no scientific evidence that supports that drinking pineapple juice before surgery can help you reduce pain and swelling.
Drinking pineapple juice, a night before wisdom tooth extraction: What does dentist say?
According to the viral hack, you must drink 64 ounces of pineapple juice a night before your wisdom tooth surgery. Practically, this is too much liquid. There can be some negative consequences if you drink this much pineapple juice before the surgery. Here is some reason to explain the same.
- Consuming 64 ounces of pineapple juice is not at all recommended, as health experts advise consuming a maximum of 8 ounces only. Too much pineapple juice consumption might have adverse effects like nausea, blood sugar increases, gastrointestinal distress, and bloating.
- 64 ounces of pineapple juice contains a lot of sugar and acid, which can cause enamel erosion and raise your risk of cavities which is not good for your surgery.
- If you are diabetic, then drinking this much juice will be extremely harmful to you and may increase your sugar level. Elevating blood sugar levels before surgery will interfere with healing. Hence keep this hack at bay.
Therefore, dentists do not recommend this hack because of the above reasons and the lack of scientific evidence.
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What can you do to reduce pain and swelling after wisdom tooth surgery?
Instead of trying the unpredictable pineapple juice hack, you can try these tricks, which are evidence-based and recommended by dentists.
- Use ice packs for the first 24 hours following surgery, 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off.
- Warm saline rinses 3 to 4 times a day.
- Taking antibiotics and other medications (that may have bromelain supplement) prescribed by the dentist.
- Using a double pillow to keep the head elevated to help reduce swelling.
Conclusion
To conclude, drinking pineapple juice before wisdom tooth surgery is not good for your health. Moreover, if this hack might have worked for a few people, it is not guaranteed that it will work the same way for each and every individual. Therefore, before experimenting, think twice and always go for an approach that has any scientific evidence besides it.
If you are facing any oral problems because of your wisdom tooth, then contact Dr. Sharda Patel. She provides extremely comfortable and stress-free tooth extraction procedure to residents of Pleasanton and other nearby areas. Schedule a dental appointment now or call us on 925-846-4491.