Can Drinking Pineapple Juice Help With Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

According to this Tik Toker, drinking pineapple juice before her wisdom teeth surgery helped with her recovery. Showing her face from different angles on what she says is the day after her surgery, she says that she didn't experience swelling at all. Another Tik Toker, Valeria, explains that she drank 64 ounces of pineapple juice before her wisdom teeth surgery, and she shows herself the next day with no swelling. 

According to Healthline, your wisdom teeth typically come in between the ages of 17 and 21. They are the ones furthest back in your mouth. In many cases, there isn't enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to erupt without causing movement or damage to the other teeth, and in this case, your dentist will likely recommend surgery to have your wisdom teeth removed. Though it's a common outpatient surgery, you may experience some swelling afterward, especially if your wisdom teeth were impacted (meaning they hadn't yet emerged from the gums). The pain and swelling should subside in four to five days (per Healthline). But is it possible that pineapple juice can actually help speed the process? 

Ready to chug some pineapple juice before your wisdom teeth surgery? According to eMedicineHealth, pineapple juice and the pineapple stem contain bromelain, a group of enzymes that can help reduce pain and swelling, including after dental surgery. In fact, a small 2018 study published in the Journal of Dentistry in Tehran tested the affect of bromelain on 26 patients who underwent gingival grafting, which is when gum tissue is grafted onto the gum line where the gums have receded. Some patients were given bromelain while other patients received a placebo, and the researchers found that bromelain can effectively reduce pain and may even aid in healing. That said, according to WebMD, more research is needed to fully probe whether bromelain can effectively treat pain and soreness.

So what do you do while you're waiting for more research? Well, generally speaking, pineapple juice is considered safe for most people to drink (per Healthline), so why not try it? But make sure you follow your surgeon's instructions about the window of fasting before the surgery. Typically you are asked not to eat or drink in the 12 hours before the procedure (per VeryWell Health). This is to prevent you from vomiting and aspirating during the surgery, which can be life-threatening. Drink your pineapple juice before the fasting window, the day before your wisdom teeth surgery, and for a few days after. It could help reduce pain and swelling.