Does Pineapple Juice Speed Up Wisdom Tooth Recovery?

If you’ve been on TikTok recently, then you probably came across at least a few videos claiming that pineapple juice can speed up recovery after wisdom tooth surgery.

The internet is filled with at-home remedies and secret elixirs that claim even the most outrageous benefits, so it can be difficult to know what really works, and what’s made just for the views.

So regarding pineapple juice, does it actually help with wisdom tooth surgery recovery?

Well, the short answer is: sort of. This blog post from Indigo Dental has all the details you need to know about this hack.

Pineapple Juice Can Help Ease Pain and Reduce Swelling

After wisdom tooth removal, patients often deal with swelling and pain. Your surgeon will recommend some at-home care tips like cold compress and even medications to help reduce your symptoms, but unfortunately, some people can still experience some discomfort nevertheless.

Pineapple contains a substance called bromelain, an enzyme that’s been shown to have pain and swelling reduction properties in a handful of studies. This is where the notion that pineapple juice helps speed up recovery after wisdom tooth surgery came from.

While your recovery can depend on a lot of different factors, the idea is that with the help of pineapple juice, you can make the recovery a bit more comfortable. 

However, Take It with a Grain of Salt

While bromelain can help reduce swelling and pain, pineapple juice doesn’t just have bromelain. It can also have high amounts of sugars. To consume enough bromelain from pineapple juice in order to feel its effects, you’d likely need to drink very high quantities of the juice.

Which can be an issue. The sugar in the juice can affect your blood sugar and even increase your risk of cavities if you don't cleanse your mouth. Not only that, but lots of pineapple juice can also cause nausea and stomach problems.

Should You Try This Hack?

As long as you don’t overdo it, it can’t hurt to try drinking a bit of pineapple juice for the bromelain. However, you’ll likely experience much better results by also going with the more traditional approaches:

• Applying a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling
• Resting to give your body a chance to recover
• Taking OTC pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage your symptoms

Experiencing Problems with Your Wisdom Teeth? Indigo Dental Can Help!

Because of their position, wisdom teeth are often at higher risk of tooth decay and even infections. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, or just want to check if the wisdom tooth should come out, Indigo Dental is at your service! We’ll also give you some at-home tips that work a lot better than drinking pineapple juice!

To get started, please book a consultation with Dr. Meagan Crosland online, or call us at (864) 565-8684 for more information.