10 Tips for Recovering from Dental Surgery

At some point in your oral health journey, you may need to have dental surgery. While unpleasant, your dental professional will work to ensure you’re comfortable during the procedure. And there are ways to help you heal faster. At BC Perio, we want to ensure that your healing is as painless as possible. So consider these tips for a speedy recovery.

1. Follow your surgeon’s directions

This is mission-critical and important. If you have had anesthesia, you may forget things easily. And some of your surgeon’s directions might not seem all that important. However, every detail matters to your healthy recovery. So, be sure that you have someone with you to listen to the doctor’s instructions and keep any written instructions in a prominent place.

2. Protect the surgical wound

Avoid talking too much, eating, or drinking immediately after the surgery. Also, while it may seem tempting, don’t spit; it disturbs the wound in your mouth.

3. Take your prescription as directed

You may not feel pain right after the surgery. But if your doctor has prescribed pain medication, take it and stay ahead of the pain. Antibiotics might also be part of your healing regimen to prevent infections.

4. Use cold compresses

In addition to pain medication, many people find comfort in an ice pack. Expect some swelling on your face which can be reduced with cold compresses. A cool, wet washcloth can also give relief with less of a chill.

5. Rest

Don’t forget; your body has just gone through surgery! Take off work and give yourself the afternoon to rest, nap, and avoid strenuous activity. 

6. Eat soft food

You do need to fuel your healing, so food is important. But make sure that what you eat is easy to chew and won’t get stuck in any surgical wound. In the same way, steer clear of foods containing a lot of acid or salt.

7. Stay hydrated

Water is also an important factor in making new cells, so it’s vital that you stay fully hydrated. Sucking on ice chips helps reduce swelling and maintain hydration.

8. Don’t use a straw

Straws are forbidden for use after most oral surgeries because the sucking action needed to bring a liquid up through the straw also sucks at the rest of the mouth, potentially dislodging any sutures.

9. Avoid alcohol and tobacco

Both alcohol and tobacco are usually forbidden for several days after oral surgery. They can slow blood flow to the mouth and cause complications.

10. Practice good oral hygiene

The mouth can be a germy place, especially if you have a surgical wound. Talk to your surgeon about how to keep your mouth as clean as possible. This may mean using a specific periodontal mouthwash.

For other questions about recovery after dental surgery, let us help! Talk to our team at BC Perio!