Oral surgery shouldn’t be taken lightly. Most likely you have to prepare by drinking plenty of water, resting, and not eating for at least 12 hours before. The surgery might be painful, or result in pain after the fact. Either way there is a lot one needs to do to get ready. But what about afterwards? There is a whole list of things that will help you get ready, and it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we’ve compiled some pointers to help you make recovery simple and as painless as possible.
Make preparations for immediately after surgery
You will probably be on drugs, or still feel their effects after your procedure. Be sure to get someone to drive you back from the surgeon’s office. Have some easy to chew food – like soup and/or soft, room temperature things that you can eat without irritating your teeth.
Take it easy
Don’t do any stressful exercise, or anything that can exacerbate complications afterwards. You want to minimize bleeding, and do nothing intense while the drugs wear off. Try not to do much bending or lifting, as those activities can dislodge the clots that prevent bleeding.
You will be given instructions – follow them
After surgery, your dentist or oral surgeon should give you a list of directions. Follow them to a T. Instructions may include the following:
- Don’t brush afterwards for some time. This can dislodge clots, irritate teeth and gums, and cause complications.
- You may need to rinse your mouth out with water or a water/salt mixture.
- Essentially you will want to keep the area clean but not irritate it. Make sure that bits of food and other debris don’t remain in the mouth.
- Rest time is crucial. Follow the steps given to ensure you recover properly.
Ice the painful areas
There is a good chance of swelling, inflammation, and/or pain after surgery. Have some frozen peas or ice packs ready to alleviate your pain when the surgery is complete. Ice will help numb pain and decrease swelling, and it’s advised to use after just about any surgery or injury.
Stop the bleeding
You may need to keep cotton balls or other ways to block bleeding prepared after your procedure. It’s a good idea to get these things ready beforehand, as you may still be recovering from the painkillers that were used during the surgery.
Take your medications
Most likely, you will be given some medication to help with pain after the surgery. Take them as advised and be sure to rest while doing so. It’s generally not a good idea to drive, work, do physically intense activities, or operate heavy machinery while on pain meds.
Observe
You know your body best. Watch how your recovery is going and make sure there are no serious complications.
- Swelling should go down after the first few days. If it remains or gets worse, pay attention and contact your dentist if necessary.
- Bleeding should also be quelled. If bleeding persists or worsens, get a hold of your dentist.
- If you have an allergic reaction to your antiseptic, that’s another great reason to call your dentist immediately.
- Make sure your recovery stays on-track and you improve incrementally day by day.
Check in for follow-ups
After the first week or two of oral surgery, you will probably want to check in with your doctor or dentist. The oral surgeon will most likely give you a schedule of when you should do so. This simple follow-up can help reduce or prevent post surgical complications and make your life a lot easier.
Avoid certain foods
Certain foods are tough on the teeth and can make things worse. Avoid them in the days after surgery.
- Sticky foods that cling to the teeth.
- Coffee and other acidic drinks, like alcohol.
- Spicy foods like peppers.
- Crunchy and tough foods put stress on the teeth.
Ask your surgeon about other foods to avoid in the days after your procedure.
For a full run-down, look at this article, which covers a day-by-day surgery recovery regiment.
If you need oral surgery, get the best
At Josey Lane Dentistry, we pride ourselves on our surgical record. We are an accomplished dental office who can help you get the best treatment and post-surgical care. Contact us today, and we can help ensure your procedure and recover go as smoothly as possible. We have been serving the Carrollton Texas area for years, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have and help you recover.
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