Influence of milk and dairy products on wound healing after wisdom teeth removal: a prospective clinical study

The oral cavity poses a challenging surgical site due to physiologically high bacterial load and limited disinfection efficacy, attributed to biofilm-promoting surfaces of teeth and saliva. To minimise postoperative wound healing complications, clinicians in German-speaking countries traditionally advise against the consumption of milk and dairy products following dental, oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery. Although primarily rooted in historical tradition, the belief that milk impairs wound healing remains prevalent. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of milk and dairy product consumption on intraoral wound healing following elective surgical removal of impacted third molars. This prospective, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial analysed data from 157 healthy patients who underwent surgical removal of impacted third molars. Participants were randomised to either consume milk and dairy products at least three times per day (experimental group; n=77) or completely avoid dairy (control group; n=80) during a 7-day postoperative period. Wound healing was assessed using the adapted ASEPSA (Additional treatment, Serous exudate, Erythema, Purulent exudate, Separation of deep tissue, Admission to the hospital) wound scoring system. The total follow-up period was 3 months to monitor for late wound healing complications. The majority of patients (90,4%; n=142), regardless of group allocation, achieved an ASEPSA score of 0, indicating undisturbed wound healing. The overall postoperative complication rate was 7.0% (n=11), with a higher incidence observed in the control group (n=8) compared with the dairy group (n=3) (p>0.05). Specifically, the rate of infectious complications was 2.5% (n=4), with no evidence of an increased infection risk associated with dairy consumption. These findings do not support the assumption that milk consumption impairs wound healing. Postoperative intake of milk and dairy products was not associated with an increased rate of wound healing disturbances or infectious complications. Moreover, the dairy-containing diet was perceived as less restrictive and contributed to greater patient comfort. Consequently, the recommendation to avoid milk following oral surgery can no longer be justified.