While oral surgery is a major step toward better oral health, recovery involves much more than the actual surgical procedure. Good post-operative care encourages healing and comfort while minimizing complications like infection or dry socket.
By following the right post-surgery practices, patients can get a smoother recovery and get back to their daily routines more quickly.
At Enhance Dental Centre, it is our duty to provide the highest quality and personalized service through detailed post-operative instructions guiding you through every step of your healing process.
What You Should Do When Recovering From Oral Surgery
If you’ve recently had oral surgery, it’s crucial to follow proper aftercare steps to ensure a smooth recovery. Poor aftercare can lead to complications such as trauma or infection, so it’s important to be mindful during your recovery. You can enhance your healing process by following the tips below:
Take it Easy and Rest
After your procedure, plan to take a rest and relax for at least one day following oral surgery. This time may be extended if the procedure is extensive or if you happen to be in more discomfort than usual.
If you have been given a sedative, you will feel drowsy and must not drive or try to do anything that requires your full attention. You should also avoid strenuous activities.
Do not bend or lift heavy groceries or laundry, as well as anything else that could dislodge the blood clots and cause bleeding. When you lie down, support your head with additional pillows.
Follow Instructions
Follow the oral surgeon’s advice about how to take care of yourself at home. They may advise you to rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water. To make this, mix 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water.
Instead of spitting, allow the water to fall from the mouth. The surgeon may advise you not to brush or rinse your mouth with mouthwash as your mouth may be too sensitive during the recovery. Alternatively, they could tell you to brush your remaining teeth, excluding the sensitive area.
Take Your Medications
After your surgery is complete, your dentist might prescribe some medications, such as painkillers and antibiotics in order to help you recover from the surgery. Follow these drugs according to the directions of your dentist for comfort in recovery and in order to avoid complications.
If your dentist prescribes antibiotics, continue taking the full dose until finished even if you start feeling better after a few days. Tell your doctor if you have any bad reactions to the medications. If you should take any over-the-counter drugs check with your doctor about possible interactions.
Limit Your Diet
In the first few days after oral surgery, it’s important to plan and carefully monitor what you eat. Good nutrition provides your body with the right supplies to heal and enhances your immune system. Poor choice of foods can irritate a surgical area and hinder recovery.
Avoid spicy foods and hot beverages; opt for cool, soothing options that are gentle on your mouth. Stick to soft foods and liquids that don’t require chewing. Also, avoid drinking through straws because of the suction that could affect the site of the surgery and disturb the crucial blood clots.
Ideal foods after surgery include yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, smoothies, and broth.
Protect the Blood Clot
The patient should not smoke, use a straw, or drink carbonated or alcoholic drinks for at least three days after surgery. This helps keep the blood clot in place and prevents a painful dry socket, which can slow healing and require help from the oral surgeon.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
After surgery, the oral surgeon will explain how to keep your mouth clean while healing. Here are oral hygiene tips that oral surgery patients should follow after their procedures:
Don’t Floss
If you’ve had oral surgery, like crown lengthening or a gum graft, it’s important to avoid flossing for a few days to prevent irritating the surgical area. Be sure to wait for your surgeon’s approval before resuming flossing.
Avoid Antibacterial Mouthwash
Using antibacterial mouthwash is good for your oral hygiene, but don’t use it right after surgery. The strong ingredients can irritate your mouth, especially if you have an exposed jawbone from a tooth extraction. If antibacterial mouthwash is needed, your dentist will advise how and when to use it.
Rinse with Warm Water
After oral surgery, it is very important to keep your mouth clean. In fact, this might be a bit challenging when you are bleeding and your mouth is swollen. Rinsing your mouth with warm water 5-6 times a day, gently, and especially after meals, will help remove food without brushing near sensitive areas.
Change Gauze Every Few Hours if You’re Bleeding
Depending on the type of oral surgery you have, there will likely be bleeding from the surgical site that will require you to apply gauze in your mouth. Change the gauze every few hours until the bleeding has stopped so the site stays clean and the gauze can absorb any new blood.
Avoid Vigorous Brushing and Do Not Brush the Surgical Site
The day after your surgery, you might feel the need to brush your teeth to reduce bad breath. If you do, make sure to brush very gently and avoid the surgical area, as it’s still too sensitive to handle even light brushing at this stage of your recovery.
Conclusion
Proper aftercare will ensure your smooth and successful recovery after oral surgery. In order to minimize complications and speed up the healing process, it is important for patients to manage pain appropriately, exercise gentle oral hygiene, stay hydrated, and follow all post-operative recommendations.
Keep in mind that every person’s path to recovery after surgery is different, and you should listen to your body and communicate if something doesn’t feel right.
At Enhance Dental Centre, we guide and walk you through every step. If something is not making sense or you need further clarification at any stage, please contact us for professional care and guidance.
FAQs
1. What are the don’ts after oral surgery?
After treatment, avoid heavy lifting and moving your head quickly for a few days. Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours. Also, don’t brush the surgical area for the first few days, though you can gently clean it with soft gauze.
2. What helps the healing process after dental surgery?
Good nutrition and hydration are important for helping your gums heal after surgery. Drink enough water every day to stay hydrated. Consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein can promote tissue healing and support a smoother recovery.
3. How do I know if my oral surgery is healing?
About 3 days after surgery, your gums will start to heal and close around the surgical area. By 7-10 days after the procedure, your gums should feel normal without tenderness or swelling.
