If you made it through your oral surgery, you’d want to follow the aftercare for your mouth to ensure a quick and effective recovery. There are plenty of simple ways to ease the pain and avoid infection after any procedure to your teeth and gums.
Oral Surgery Aftercare Tips
- Take it easy.
After the surgery, spend the entire day resting. If you had a sedative, you’d probably be drowsy. So you should not do anything that requires concentration, such as driving. Also, avoid demanding activities. Don’t lift anything that might dislodge the blood clots. Use extra pillows to elevate your head during sleep.
- Follow the instructions.
Your surgeon might tell you not to brush, as your mouth may be too sensitive at the moment. Or he could say to you not to brush the tender spot, but clean the rest of your teeth normally.
- Guard the clot.
Keep your blood clot safe. Don’t drink alcoholic or carbonated beverages, use a straw, or smoke for at least 3 days after your procedure. Try not to spit too much, either.
- Block the blood.
You might bleed for the first day or so after surgery. Gently bite on gauze for a bit to help slow the flow of the blood. If the bleeding carries on for more than 24 hours, call your dentist or oral surgeon.
- Ice it.
Don’t worry if your face is swollen or have bruises. For the first 24 hours, apply an ice pack to your jaw for 30 minutes, remove it for 15 minutes, and repeat it. If you had surgery on both sides of your mouth, switch the ice pack from side to side.
If the condition worsens, you have a fever, or you notice pus, it could be infected. Call Vintage Oral Surgery at (281) 800 8852.