How to Ease the Pain and Avoid Infection After Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is one of the most common surgeries that most people have. Types of oral surgery may include tooth extraction, wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, apicoectomy, facial reconstruction, or cleft palate or lip surgery. 

However, just like any surgery, you will most likely feel some pain afterwards, and you are prone to infection because you have an existing wound that needs time to heal. 

If you have gone through any of these surgeries, it’s best to take care of your mouth to ensure a quick and easy recovery. You wouldn’t want to develop some infection and feel some extreme pain. Don’t worry, though! We’re here to give you some tips on how you can ease your pain and avoid infection after your oral surgery.  

Let’s get to it!

Tip #1: Try to Take it Easy

Even if you don’t feel any pain after your surgery, avoid doing strenuous activities and spend your day resting. Maybe you’re not feeling any pain because of the anesthesia. However, once it wears off, you might feel pain in the affected area, so it’s best if you’re just lying down. Besides, you may be feeling a little drowsy because of the sedatives. So, don’t drive a car or do anything else that requires concentration.

Also, you must not bend or lift anything because that might cause bleeding. As much as possible, take it easy and give yourself some rest. 

Tip #2: Always Follow What Your Surgeon Said

After your surgery, your surgeon will give you instructions on what you should and shouldn’t do. The best way to ease the pain and avoid infections is to follow your surgeon’s orders. If your surgeon tells you that you shouldn’t brush your teeth or use mouthwash, don’t brush your teeth or use mouthwash until they tell you so. Don’t worry because they will tell you how you can properly clean your teeth without infecting the affected area. 

Tip #3: Put Some Ice on Your Jaw

Don’t panic if you’ve noticed that your face is swelling or have bruises because it’s only normal after surgery. What you can do to ease the swelling is to put some ice on your jaw. Gently apply it for 30 minutes and remove it for 15 minutes. You can expect that the swelling will lessen after 2 or 3 days. However, if you think it’s getting worse because you already have a fever or you’re noticing some pus, call your doctor right away because the area could be infected. 

Tip #4: Only Take Cool and Soft Foods

Oral surgery will prevent you from eating hard and warm foods. Watch what you eat and only take cool and soft foods after your surgery. You can include yogurts, applesauce, or instant oatmeals in your options. 

Tip #5: Avoid the Clot

As much as possible, don’t disturb the blood clot inside your mouth. It’s trying to heal the wounds, so avoid touching the clot area if you don’t want to feel any more pain and discomfort. Avoid using straw, drink alcoholic or carbonated beverages, or smoke for at least three days to avoid infecting it. 

Conclusion

You should adequately take care of your mouth after your surgery. If you disobey your dentist’s order and you don’t follow some safety protocols, you might develop infection and feel pain and discomfort over and over again. Help yourself heal by following our tips and your dentist’s instructions. 

Are you looking for the best dental office in Denver? G-Dental32 is what you’re searching for! Get comfortable with the best dental services we offer, like oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, sedation dentistry, and more. Book your appointment with us today!