Oral Surgery: Tips for recovery from this dental treatment
Oral Surgery
There are not just one but multiple reasons for you to undergo oral surgery. You might have a tooth which is trapped in your jawbone or a tooth which is positioned in such a way that it is affecting the growth of its surrounding teeth. These problems become extremely common if you have wisdom tooth. Your dentist might also suggest oral surgery if you have to undergo dental implant placement and any other type of treatment related to gums.
Now, because this oral surgery will involve a lot of work on your gums and teeth with the help of various instruments you are bound to suffer from some sort of tenderness for the first few days. To curb that feeling you can use any painkiller which you can get at a pharmacy. However we suggest you should avoid Aspirin as it will make the blood thinner and might make your gums bleed. Your dentist will suggest you painkillers so it’s better to go by their suggestion. The ideal time to take painkillers or to use methods of reducing methods of pain is right after the treatment. The reason is that it is easy to prevent pain before it starts rather than end it.
Steps to follow after oral surgery to ensure healing process
Let’s start off with some things that you should do:
- The first day will be tough as the area will be numb. You might feel difficulty in talking however this won’t last for a long time. This is what happens in oral surgery. If you want to lie down for sometime resting your head then just do it. But make sure that you use more than one pillow so that your head gets adequate support.
- Make sure to use ice packs in the intervals of 15 minutes. This helps in reducing swelling.
- For the first couple of days after your oral surgery make sure you eat soft foods or consume liquid diet. You can consume soups, yogurt, fruit milkshakes, smoothies and mashed potatoes.
- Do not skip on any of the antibiotics.
- Make sure your mouth is clean or else the reason because of which you underwent the oral surgery will come up again.
- Your dentist will suggest you not to rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. However make sure you do it for four times a day after 24 hours. The rinsing should be gentle and the water should have salt in it. Your dentist might even suggest chlorhexidine rinse which helps in killing the bacteria.
- Oral Surgery might make your gums, teeth and root weak. So make sure you follow a balanced diet with foods rich in Vitamin C and A.
And now let’s take a look at the things that you shouldn’t do after oral surgery
- Don’t overexert yourself. Don’t bend over or do heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for two to three days after surgery.
- Avoid hot food or drinks until the numbing wears off. You cannot feel pain while you’re numb, and you may burn your mouth. Also take care not to accidentally chew your cheek!
- Don’t chew hard or crunchy foods, such as carrots or popcorn, in the area of the surgery for six to eight weeks.
- Don’t brush or floss teeth in the surgical area until advised to do so by your dentist. Then, be sure to do so carefully.
- Try not to smoke for as long as possible after surgery, but at the very least for the rest of the day. Smoking can interfere with the healing process and the sucking motion can dislodge blood clots that are forming as part of the healing process.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours, as it can delay the healing process.
Follow these simple and effective tips post the oral surgery to attain proper care.
