7 Tips to Follow for A Speedy Recovery Post – Dental Surgery

We understand that dental surgery can be a terrifying ordeal for some of us. However, our oral surgeons assure you that it’s nothing to worry about. Timely medication and care will restore your pearly whites to their former glory in no time.

Recovery After Oral Surgery

Usually, a patient will take 7-15 days to recover from surgery (depending on the severity of the procedure). During this week-long (or more) period the patient is to seek adequate dental care to avoid any complications. Dental surgeons are also of the opinion that the first few hours post-surgery are essential for a quick recovery.

There are certain instructions one must follow to speed up the healing process.

Rest For the Day

Oral surgeons carry out most of their procedures in their clinic and will be free to go home on completion of the surgery. You will be given a sedative to numb the pain. A lot of people feel spacey and disoriented after this, so it’s best you take a day off.

Be gentle with your face and avoid any activity that might disturb the wound. When you retire to bed for the night, sleep with your head elevated.

Keep The Wound Clean

Brushing your teeth or using a mouthwash might be out of the scope for a while. However, you will still need to keep your teeth and the operated area clean. Doctors may suggest a mild salt solution (½ tablespoon of salt in 8 oz of water) to wash your mouth with.

Take extra care to ensure that no food bits are left stuck on or around the wound as it is highly likely to cause an infection.

Apply Ice

Icing your jaw is going to help manage the inflammation and pain. Apply an ice pack for 30 minutes, let it rest for 15 minutes, and then go over again. Repeat the procedure as often as you can and in 2-3 days the swelling will begin to decrease.

Take Care of Any Bleeding

Since the wound is still raw, you can expect bleeding for the first 24 hours or so after surgery. Staunch the blood flow with a piece of folded gauze. If the bleeding shows no signs of subsiding even after 24 hours, you should contact your dental surgeon immediately.

Follow A Liquid/Soft Diet

Post-surgery, you will need to watch your diet. Cool, soft foods like yogurt, oatmeal porridge, etc. are some good options. For the first 1-2 weeks you must stay away from tough, chewy, cold/hot, and spicy foods.

Take Your Pain Meds Without Fail

For the first couple of days, the pain might be unmanageable without medicine. It is normal enough, nevertheless do take your painkillers on time. Within 48 hours you should be feeling better.

Look Out for Warning Signs

If you notice the swelling going nowhere even after doing all you were supposed to, it might be a of post-surgery complications. It may be accompanied by a fever or infection.

Sign

Sometimes if your body has an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, you might face difficulty breathing and swallowing

If you have the slightest reason to suspect something is wrong, contact your health care provider immediately.

Why Us?

Dr. Craig A. Wooten started Oral & Facial Surgery of Oklahoma, Inc. in Oklahoma City with the hopes of restoring the smiles of the people. Years later it is safe to say, he has done that and more. Dr. Wooten offers a wide range of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Call us at 405-751-7600 to know more. 

**Disclaimer: This site content is not intended to be medical advice nor establishes a doctor-patient relationship.