Okay, It’s Over
The hard part is over. Your dental surgery went well and you’re on your way to a better smile. What happens next though can be just as important… recovery. Proper recovery after a dental surgery can reduce complications, reduce recovery time and even encourage a more thorough oral hygiene routine.
How to Recover
If you’ve just had surgery, your oral surgeon has stressed the importance of recovery and gone over a list of to-do’s and not to-do’s. But if you’re worried about a potential upcoming surgery and don’t know what to expect as far as recovery expectations go we’ve written up a list for you here:
- Recovery takes time. And depending on how invasive the surgery was can alter your recovery time as well. So for questions about the recovery time of a specific procedure, ask your oral surgeon.
- Pain management. Recovery can be painful. Usually, pain can be managed with an over the counter pain reliever. But in some situations, we can provide you with a prescription-strength medication. Both of which are only to be used as directed.
- Swelling is usually a part of getting back to normal following a procedure. Ice packs can be a huge help assuming you wrap your ice in a towel and only ice for 20-minute intervals.
- After a couple of days, moist heat can help too. Again, it’s important to wrap the heat source in a towel before applying to the skin.
- Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal using salt water rinses.
- You can still brush your teeth but be sure to take care around surgical sites.
Dietary Reminders
What you eat and drink is going to be especially important given an oral surgery recovery regiment.
- Liquid and soft nutrient rich foods
- Don’t skip meals
- Avoid hard, sticky, chewy and crunchy foods
- Drink plenty of water
Don’t forget to get some rest! Sleep can be some of the best medicine. It provides your body the downtime it needs for maintenance and recharging!
Call Today
For more information regarding what to expect after your upcoming dental surgery call Dr. Pollock at (469)264-8921. Use this line to schedule appointments too or visit the Rockwall Oral Surgery contact page.
