Are you one of the 36% of people with dental anxiety? If you’re concerned about going to the dentist, you may not be looking forward to an upcoming oral surgery appointment. But if you’ve had an issue affecting your teeth or gums, you’ll be better off taking care of it — and following the right recovery protocol.
Read on to learn 6 essential tips to facilitate a faster oral surgery recovery process!
1. Get Enough Rest
One of the biggest oral surgery recovery tips is to get plenty of rest. You may have been under anesthesia during the surgery.
And because of this, you’ll need to give your body a break as it recovers. Take time off from work or school in the day or two after surgery.
2. Maintain Your Medication Regimen
What is oral surgery? It’s a procedure that a periodontist or maxillofacial surgeon conducts on your teeth, jaw, or gums.
And this type of surgery may require doing an implant or extraction. In those instances, your provider will probably prescribe some medications.
Medications will help reduce the chances of infection. And you may be advised to take pain medications, as well. Make sure you follow through on both of these recommendations!
3. Use Caution Around the Affected Area
A good dentist for oral surgery will provide instructions for your brushing routine. After oral surgery, you may need to be more gentle than normal in the affected area.
Your dentist may suggest that you stay away from using water or mouthwash to rinse your mouth on the day following surgery. Or you may need to use saltwater.
4. Consume Soft Foods
A sore mouth or jaw means that chewing will be challenging following oral surgery. Additionally, hard or textured foods could bother the surgical site if you’re not careful.
Stick to softer foods, like mashed potatoes or smoothies. Applesauce and yogurt are safe choices, too!
5. Avoid Alcohol During Oral Surgery Recovery
If you like a glass of wine with dinner, you’ll need to abstain during oral surgery recovery. You don’t know how alcohol will interact with prescribed medications. And the last thing you want to do is prolong the recovery process.
Stick with water and avoid overly hot or caffeinated drinks. While you’re at it, put the straw away. The act of sucking a liquid through a straw could hurt the wounded area.
6. Cut the Swelling with Ice
No oral surgery recovery guide is complete without mentioning the importance of ice. After a surgeon has addressed your teeth or gums, you may feel sensitivity in the area.
You could even notice bruising or swelling, particularly in the day or two after oral surgery. Reach for a cold compress or bag of ice to soothe the area. Apply it to the affected area for about 20 minutes, remove it for 20 minutes, and apply it again.
Follow These Oral Surgery Recovery Tips
You can speed up oral surgery recovery by following your dentist’s orders. Be cautious when chewing or brushing around the affected area. And use ice to help reduce the swelling.
Find more tips to stay healthy. Check back for new articles soon!
