Due to technological advances in medicine, oral surgery is often painless and uncomplicated. Because of this, recovery is majorly a process that you will require your attention, unlike the surgery. So, what is considered oral surgery? It refers to an operation of the mouth that aims to place the dental implants, remove impacted wisdom teeth or repair diseased gums. Now that your oral surgery was successful, you will need to take care of your mouth for a smooth and successful recovery. Below are tips to help in speeding up the process.
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After the appointment, you will need to take a day off and rest. Often the doctors will give you a sedative. As a result, you will be drowsy; thus, you shouldn’t drive, go to work, or engage in anything that requires maximum concentration. Also, you should avoid bending as much as possible or engaging in strenuous activities as they may dislodge the clot leading to bleeding of the wound. It would be best if you used an extra pillow when lying to elevate your head. Lying too flat encourages the blood pool in the head, which may prolong the healing time.
The orthodontist may give you instructions that may appear weird, but you should follow them. For instance, they may tell you not to brush your teeth, to avoid the tender spot, or not to use a mouthwash. They are only giving you such instructions because your mouth is now too sore for regular oral hygiene. You may need to gaggle some warm salted water to clean food from the area while disinfecting it. If the surgery is on the upper jaw, try not to blow your nose or sneeze. Such actions may create pressure in your mouth that may dislodge the blood clot formed, resulting in bleeding.
Your face will swell for a day after the surgery. To ease the inflammation, ice the jaw for about 10 minutes, then leave it for about 30 minutes and freeze it again. In case you underwent surgery on both sides of the mouth, then switch from side to side. That way, the swelling will stop quickly, and it will help with the pain. Also, you can buy over the counter pain relievers to reduce the inflammation and pain.
Your mouth will be sore after oral surgery. Depending on how tender the jaw feels, it can be quite tempting to breathe through your mouth, which can result in mouth dryness and further disrupt the pH of your mouth. This creates a thriving environment for bacteria, increasing your chances of getting an infection in the area. If you must breathe through the mouth, ensure you compensate by taking in lots of water. It will ensure your mouth remains healthy and recover fast.
Generally, oral surgeries make chewing hard foods hard. Thus, you will need to change your diet. Start with liquid food like soup, porridge, and fruit juice. Protein drinks like Slimfast, boost also make an excellent source of nutrition. You can then gradually start taking soft foods such as mashed bananas and eggs. They don’t require a lot of chewing hence, limiting the chance of the food particles getting trapped in the operated area. Also, consider staying away from spicy and acidic foods, which may irritate the gums. Another useful tip to consider is to avoid using a straw after the tooth extraction. Sucking the straw after oral surgery could result in dry sockets. It is a painful condition that could cause you to visit your doctor once more.
The blood clot is necessary in the healing process. Try not to disturb it; sometimes, the disturbance could result from your habits. For instance, avoid using straws, drinking carbonated drinks, taking alcohol, or smoking. You should restrain from these habits for about a week to ensure faster healing.
You must keep an eye on the healing progress of the area. Check for infection or swelling, which lasts for more than three days. An allergic reaction may not need much attention if you can breathe and aren’t sneezing. But as they say, prevention is better than cure. If we are prone to an allergic reaction we should take an antihistamine before the surgery. It will help you avoid getting an allergy from the anesthesia. Also, ensure you attend all the after-surgery follow-up treatment sessions. It will allow your dentist to access healing progress and avoid future complications.
After dental surgery, proper aftercare is crucial. The above guide will help you avoid future complications and enhance faster healing.
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