Oral Surgery Recovery Tips

woman holds an ice pack to her jaw after oral surgery

Surgical procedures are more invasive than other dental treatments, and they require more recovery time and special accommodations. If you or a loved one have a surgical treatment scheduled with our team, we will do everything we can to ensure that the entire process is as comfortable as possible. Here are some tips you can follow to have an easy recovery post-dental surgery.

Rest & Recover as Much as You Can

As with any kind of surgery, it’s important to clear your schedule and give yourself as much time as you can to rest after your procedure. Too much activity can actually cause the blood clot that is covering the extraction site to come loose, which can be very painful and slow down the healing process. Once you return to your normal routine, you may still want to continue eating soft foods and not taking on as many responsibilities as usual.

Stick to Foods That Require Little to No Chewing

Stocking up on your favorite soft foods right before your surgical procedure is an excellent idea. Things like thin or blended soups, oatmeal, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and avocados are great to keep on hand post-surgery. You will want to avoid very hot and cold foods and drinks and crunchy foods like chips and nuts, as these foods can break into sharp pieces and cause issues.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

It will be more difficult and take more time to brush your teeth after your treatment than usual, but it’s incredibly important that you follow your aftercare instructions and keep your teeth, gums, and mouth as clean as possible. You may be provided with a prescription mouthwash to rinse with, or you may be asked to create a warm saltwater solution to rinse your mouth with to kill off harmful bacteria.

Follow Your Post-Op Instructions

Speaking of post-op instructions, following the instructions that are provided to you by your doctor should be above any advice you see online or hear from friends or family. Our aftercare instructions are created with each patient’s unique needs and treatment plan in mind. If you have any questions or concerns for our team at any point, feel free to contact us!

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