If your loved one has experienced oral surgery, they will likely require assistance during recovery. Improper aftercare can result in trauma or infection of the surgical area, so it is vital to be attentive while monitoring their recovery and providing care.
Increase your chances of helping your loved one achieve a successful recovery by following the seven tips below:
- Advocate Rest. After oral surgery, the patient will require at least two days of rest without any physical activity, sometimes more depending on the invasiveness of the procedure and their level of pain. You should make sure they are comfortable and within close range of books, magazines, or a television, so they stay occupied and do not become tempted to get up and move around unnecessarily.
- Follow Directions. Carefully follow any directions the oral surgeon ordered. They may recommend the patient rinse their mouth with salt water, which you can make by dissolving ½ teaspoon of regular table salt in eight ounces of warm water. Rather than spitting after rinsing, they should let the water fall from their mouth.
- Maintain Oral Hygiene. As part of the aftercare instructions, the oral surgeon will explain how the patient can maintain oral hygiene without disrupting the healing process. Often this means not using mouthwash or brushing the surgical area but continuing to gently brush the other teeth normally.
- Stop Blood Flow. The patient will likely experience bleeding during the first day or two after their surgery, so provide them with a piece of folded gauze to gently bite to assist in stopping the blood flow. If bleeding persists for over 24 hours or becomes worse and requires more frequent changing of the gauze, contact the oral surgeon.
- Protect the Blood Clot. Make sure the patient avoids smoking, using a straw, or drinking any carbonated or alcoholic beverages for a minimum of three days after the surgery. This keeps the blood clot secure and helps prevent the development of a painful dry socket, which will delay the healing process and require assistance from the oral surgeon.
- Limit Diet. The patient should only eat soft or liquid foods following oral surgery, such as yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, milkshakes, smoothies, or broth. Make sure they avoid tough, chewy, or spicy foods, along with anything too cold or too hot.
- Manage Pain. Prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers may be taken during recovery to manage pain. It is normal after oral surgery for the patient’s face to become bruised or swollen. During the first day, you can provide them with an ice pack to apply to their jaw to alleviate swelling and reduce pain. Switch back and forth between 30 minutes with ice and 15 minutes without ice. If the swelling does not reduce after two days or becomes worse, they develop a fever or have difficulty swallowing, or you notice pus around the surgical area, contact the oral surgeon immediately.
Remember, each patient is unique. We encourage you to talk with the oral surgeon or the medical staff at OMSNashville regarding any questions you may have about the surgery or recovery process.
The information and content on our website should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment or advice from your doctor.
Tooth extractions are a widespread procedure, as they can resolve several oral health issues. Whether you need a wisdom tooth removed or are suffering from severe damage or decay, you may need to have a tooth pulled at some point. To make sure you heal quickly after your surgery, be certain to abide by these do’s and don’ts of the recovery process.
DO have someone else bring you home from the appointment.
After your tooth extraction, it may take some time for the effects of your anesthetic to wear off. Therefore, you must have a friend or relative come with you to your appointment. They will be able to help you move around immediately after your procedure, as well as drive you home from the office.
DON’T eat solid foods right away.
You will want to avoid eating solid foods for the first two days. After the anesthetic has worn off, stick to eating soft or liquid foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and the like. You’ll want to avoid eating hot meals or foods that could become stuck in the surgical site as well. That said, be sure to maintain a healthy diet after your procedure, as this will help to facilitate a speedy recovery.
DO get plenty of rest.
For the first 24 hours after your procedure, use this time to rest. Be sure not to exercise or do too many activities during this recovery time. This rest period is important for you to heal and recuperate. As you relax, be sure to keep your head slightly elevated, as this will facilitate the formation of the blood clot in the surgical site.
DON’T smoke.
Smoking hurts your recovery for a couple of reasons. First, sucking in the air can impact the blood clot and cause a dry socket. Secondly, cigarette smoke can weaken your ability to heal during this process. Therefore, we recommend that you avoid smoking for the first four days after the procedure.
DO apply ice.
Applying ice to the side of the face with a tooth extraction can help to reduce swelling around the site. You might experience this swelling for a few days after the procedure, so be sure to do so within the first 24 hours, even if this doesn’t crop up right away. Hold the ice pack to your face for twenty minutes, then remove it for the next twenty minutes, and repeat. You can do this for 1-2 hour periods for the first two days to help reduce your swelling.
DON’T disturb your extraction site for a few days.
For the first three days, you must allow the extraction site to heal, as this is the time period in which your blood clot is forming. Therefore, avoid touching the surgical site during this time and not cleaning the area for the first day. It is also essential that you do not drink from a straw, whistle, smoke, or even play a wind instrument during this time, as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot and cause a painful condition known as a dry socket.
Do you need to schedule a tooth extraction? Do you have questions about your recovery process? Contact Steger Smiles to schedule your appointment or speak with someone in our office.