- TikTokers are drinking pineapple juice before wisdom teeth surgeries to reduce their risk of swelling.
- Pineapple juice contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain.
- However, drinking large amounts of the sugary and acidic juice might hurt your teeth and stomach.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
If you get your wisdom teeth removed, you're in for a few days of swollen chipmunk cheeks and soft foods.
Drinking pineapple juice could help reduce the pain and swelling associated with the surgery, according to a recent TikTok trend.
TikTokers are drinking huge, two-liter bottles of pineapple juice the evening before getting their wisdom teeth removed and posting videos of their results.
In selfies taken right after the extraction surgeries, people usually look puffy-cheeked and have gauze coming out of their mouths. But in updates filmed the next day or even hours later, the TikTokers appeared to return to normal with almost no visible swelling.
The trend is actually backed by science, but drinking large amounts of juice, especially before surgery, is not without health risks.
Drinking pineapple juice can help ease inflammation
Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which has natural anti-inflammatory effects.
The bromelain in pineapples can help reduce the swelling that comes with wisdom teeth extractions, Dr. William Graves told Insider.
Graves, an oral surgeon in Amarillo, Texas, with 2.6 million TikTok followers, added that it's normal to experience some discomfort and swelling after any invasive procedure.
In one video, TikTok user @mack_attack323 said before her surgery, "Clearly I don't have anything to compare it to, but if I'm not in a lot of pain or I don't have a lot of swelling, I'm going to consider it a success."
After drinking a half a gallon of 100% pineapple juice, she wrote in a caption that the hack was "definitely a success."
Although she looked pretty swollen right after surgery, the inflammation subsided within a couple days and she rated her pain a one out of 10.
The juice is very sugary and acidic, so proceed with caution
Those who tried the trend consumed large quantities of juice to make sure they saw results. However, drinking so much sugar could have unintended consequences for your oral health and digestive system.
"Friendly reminder pineapples are an acidic fruit and they are high in sugar, so be sure to swish your mouth with water after eating them," Graves wrote in an email to Insider.
The sugary juice could wreak havoc on your protective tooth enamel if you don't follow up with good oral hygiene. Make sure to wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, as you should after consuming any acidic foods or drinks.
Pineapple juice can also upset sensitive stomachs, since it is acidic and a common allergen.
It's also vital to follow your doctor's orders on eating or drinking before surgery. In a follow-up video, @mack_attack323 said she drank her juice around 8pm the night before surgery, since she wasn't supposed to eat or drink after midnight.
Most physicians will forbid you from eating or drinking for eight to 12 hours prior to surgery to decrease the risk of complications.