5 Ways to Prepare for Oral Surgery

Oral surgery can seem like a stressful event, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re going to walk through what to expect during oral surgery, to hopefully eliminate any fear or myths that you may have. Ignorance can be bliss, but not in this case. Here are 5 things you should mentally and physically prepare yourself for, before your oral surgery.

Bleeding and Swelling

Bleeding and inflammation can undoubtedly be scary, but these are normal bodily responses to any surgery. You can expect slight bleeding after the surgery for up to 24 hours. The dentist will provide you gauze and will ask you to press in it over the bleeding area firmly for an hour. If the area continues to bleed, contact your dental surgeon right away. You’ll also notice swelling around your mouth. This will subside on its own within a week. However, you may also use a cold compress and prop your head up with pillows when laying down on the first day after your surgery. Wait for 10 days, and if the swelling doesn’t completely disappear, contact your dentist.

Pain and Pain-Killers

Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may experience some pain. The dentist already expects this and will prescribe pain-relief medication. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to prevent any infection after the surgery. If you continue to take your medicines as per the prescription, you don’t have to worry about pain.

Recovery Time

You have to take it slow and give your body time to heal. You should be on complete bed-rest for at least 48 hours following the surgery. You’ll be able to resume your job after 2-3 days only if it doesn’t require a lot of physical activity. Exercises and lifting heavy objects is prohibited as well.

Eating and Drinking Routine

You should be prepared to be on a liquid diet, at least until the bleeding and pain stop. You can eat smoothies, juices, yogurt, and everything fit for an infant without teeth. Do not eat or drink anything too hot or too cold. Smoking and alcohol intake is strictly prohibited during the healing process as it slows it down and might interfere with the effects of medication. Avoid any hard food that requires biting and chewing for up to 8 weeks.

Oral Hygiene Routine

Try not to rinse, swish, or spit for at least a day. Once you are able to open your mouth wide enough and your dentist has given a thumbs-up, brush your teeth and floss very gently. Do not use mouthwash; instead, stick to softly rinsing your mouth with water. After a day or two, you can use a salt water rinse. If you have dentures, wait for at least 10 days before you start wearing them.

Your local Waco or Harker Heights dentist will be able to answer any questions about oral surgery that you may have, and hopefully this article was a good guide to start the process of alleviating your fears.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]