It is important to diligently abide by the instructions provided by your oral surgeon after you have undergone an oral surgery with a dentist near Allen or anywhere.
Here, I am going to reveal 10 after surgery care tips that will enhance your recovery. Don’t be surprised if some have been explicitly stated by your surgeon.
Now;
Let’s get started.
Take a break
It is not advised that you immediately resume your normal daily routine after you were just wheeled out of the operating theater. Depending on the severity of the surgery performed, it is advised that you take at least 5 days break to avoid complications with your recovery.
Avoid the urge to smoke
This is for those who smoke. You definitely don’t want to light a pipe during your recovery phase. Doing this exposes you to dire consequences as the effect of smoking may cause the wound in your mouth to begin bleeding.
Use Ice Packs
You are most definitely going to experience a swollen mouth after undergoing oral surgery. In this case, it is naturally expected that the swelling would subside after about 3 days. However, you can place ice packs (gently) on the swollen spots to reduce swelling.
Note: Using ice packs to reduce swelling is recommended on the day you underwent surgery. Using ice packs the days after the surgery has proven not to be of any effect.
Keep your mouth clean
An unclean mouth delays healing. Therefore, follow the instructions of your surgeon as regards cleaning your mouth after surgery.
The safest approach for cleaning the mouth post-surgery is to rinse with warm water mixed with salt. Unless you can avoid impact with the wounds in your mouth, it is recommended that you do not brush, just stick with the warm salt-water.
Block the bleeding
Oral surgery is associated with bleeding. You can place a clean, dry gauze pad on the bleeding area to provide pressure for reducing the bleeding. However, where the bleeding seems to be excessive, quickly reach out to your surgeon.
Be careful of what you eat
In the first few days following surgery, do not consume foods that require too much chewing. In fact, you should stop feeding on foods that require chewing altogether. Instead, consume liquid foods. Once the wound starts to feel better, you can begin eating foods that require chewing.
During your recovery phase, avoid acidic food and spicy food as they may affect the wound.
Use pain relief
After the anesthesia wears out, you would feel pangs of pain on the wound in your mouth. Take pain killers to relieve the pain. Your dentist would naturally prescribe one for you, so use as per their instruction.
Follow your surgeon’s guide
I can’t stress this enough. Your dentist’s post-surgery instructions are the most important things you should abide with following surgery — not what you have read on the internet or what your friend thinks is okay for you. No one understands your condition better than the person who operated on it. Makes sense, right?