Teens Are Drinking Half A Gallon Of Pineapple Juice Before Having Their Wisdom Teeth Removed — But Is It Safe?

    "Pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain, [which] triggers your body’s natural anti-inflammatory response."

    Alexa Lisitza
    by Alexa Lisitza

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Each year, about 5 million people have their wisdom teeth removed. Whether it be due to pain, repeated infection, damage to nearby teeth, or other medical reasoning, getting your wisdom teeth extracted can be daunting. The procedure is known for bringing about a few days of post-surgical pain, swelling, and general angst.

    Mario Arango / Getty Images

    So, when 21-year-old nursing student Mackenzie Fuhrman shared a hack she learned to limit next-day swelling and pain from wisdom teeth removal, it should be no surprise that her mini-vlog quickly amassed 22.1 million views.

    In the video, Mackenzie explains that she was inspired to drink 64 ounces of pineapple juice before her upcoming wisdom teeth removal surgery after watching another TikTok user document their journey in a similarly viral clip.

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    "I saw a video on my For You page of a girl claiming that drinking pineapple juice before her wisdom teeth removal surgery helped her recover almost instantaneously," Mackenzie told BuzzFeed. "Knowing that I was getting mine removed a month from then, I researched it and saw that there was scientific proof backing these claims, so I decided the day before my surgery I would try it!"

    In a TikTok version of peer reviewing, Mackenzie modeled her experiment directly after the original poster's by drinking 100% pineapple juice. She also refrained from eating or drinking after midnight the day before her surgery, as instructed by her dental surgeon.

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    "On day one, right after the surgery, I went home and took a really long nap," Mackenzie shared. "After I woke up, I experienced some minor bleeding but was still really numb until later that night. I had a little swelling but nothing noticeable."

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    "Day 2: I wasn’t bleeding anymore but was definitely sore. Everything I experienced, I wouldn’t classify as pain but more as uncomfortable, which is to be expected from any invasive procedure," she continued. "I wasn’t able to eat anything solid, so I was just eating and drinking liquids, which helped with the soreness. I was still slightly swollen, but I could have gone out in public and I don’t think anyone would've suspected anything."

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    "Day 3: People were saying that I would probably feel more pain and see more swelling on day 3 or 4, but I experienced the opposite of that," she said. "At this point I was still only eating and drinking liquids, but that was the only thing different than any other normal day. The swelling was completely down and I had absolutely zero pain."

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    After sharing her journey, Mackenzie followed up with viewers to clarify that her wisdom teeth removal was more of a textbook case with no previous pain or underlying issues, which may have added to the ease of her recovery.

    TikTok: @mack_attack323 / Via tiktok.com

    "When I got an X-ray done, my surgeon told me that nothing looked abnormal and it should be a very easy surgery with little chance of complications," she said. "My wisdom teeth were not growing in toward my other teeth, which usually indicates a more complicated removal. ... My case was simple and was an example that didn’t require any special precautions. I [don't] want people to watch my video and believe that their experience [is] going to be exactly like mine. [It's] important to talk about concerns with your doctor."

    So we did! After hearing about Mackenzie's recovery, BuzzFeed reached out to Dr. Leeyah Alim, a Chicago-based doctor of dental medicine.

    "Pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain, [which] triggers your body’s natural anti-inflammatory response." she shared. "So, it’s a great food to eat following injuries that include swelling. Eating pineapple [before] extractions or drinking the juice afterwards gives your body a nice, little boost to recover."

    "[However], I also want to note that if consumed in excess, pineapple juice can cause diarrhea, skin rash, and other side effects," she cautioned. "So while it’s good to drink a cup of pineapple juice or a serving of pineapple juice to help with swelling, don’t go overboard."

    "One more thing," Dr. Alim, like any good dentist, was sure to mention before the end of our chat. "Pineapples are very acidic and very high in sugar, which is a recipe for cavities. So if you DO decide to start eating pineapples regularly for their anti-inflammatory properties, be sure to swish your mouth with water after you finish eating them."

    Thanks, doc!

    If you'd like to keep up with Mackenzie, you can follow her on TikTok. You can also learn more about dentistry by following Dr. Leeyah on Instagram.