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7 Dos And Don'ts Of Post Smile Operations

You may also follow the instructions below on the dos and don'ts of post dental operations care. Dental implants, tooth extraction, gum...

By Credihealth Admin Updated on September 29, 2023 • 5 min read
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Dental implants, tooth extraction, gum surgery are different types of dental surgery. You may experience pain, bleeding, or edema after dental surgery, depending on the procedure. Pain medicine may be administered. After surgery, the patient's pain should diminish with time. However, the rates at which patients heal differ.  Following your surgeon's or dentist's instructions is an essential step in ensuring fast recovery after dental surgery. You may also follow the instructions below on the dos and don'ts of post dental operation care.

  • Rest After Your Dental Operation 

While recovery from dental operation takes some time, the healing process is far quicker than other types of surgery. However, you should anticipate being bedridden for a minimum of two days after surgery. If you want to lay down, keep your head elevated with pillows to help blood flow properly to your brain and minimize swelling in your mouth and cheeks. Post-oral surgery bleeding is reduced when your head is propped up. For the next two to three days, your dentist will advise you to limit your physical activities. 

  • Follow The Dental Prescription  

To relieve yourself of post-operative discomfort, your dental surgeon will likely prescribe you with medication for pain relief. Preventing pain is far easier than treating it after it has occurred.  Be sure to take your pain medicine as prescribed, even if you don't feel any discomfort. Also, even if you have to get up in the middle of the night to take your pain medicine, make sure you never miss a dosage. 

  • Use A Cold Compress For Swelling 

Swelling is another frequent side effect of dental operations and is to be expected. Swelling and discomfort should be managed with ice packs or compresses for the first 24 hours following the procedure.  So that the cold doesn't come into direct contact with your skin, use an ice cube, an ice pack, or even a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Apply ice to the area of your face that was operated on and hold it there for 15 minutes. After 24 hours, cold treatment loses its effectiveness, necessitating the use of heat to reduce edema. 

  • Switch To Heat  

If you've been using ice for more than 24 hours, switch to a heating pad or wet heat compress to reduce swelling. After surgery, swelling will be at its worst for two to three days. It would help if you now began utilizing heat to decrease the swelling and pain you're experiencing.  The moist heat is gentler on the skin. It helps the blood vessels expand more quickly, removing excess fluid from the affected area faster. Like cold treatments, apply a towel-wrapped heat source to the swollen region for 20 minutes at a time. For the first 20 minutes, turn on the heat, turn it off, and, then,  repeat the process. Swelling may not go away entirely for many days, although moist heat will hasten the process. 

  • Shift To Soft Diet 

Make sure there are plenty of soft foods in the fridge before having major dental surgery. To prevent infection, there are some soft food suggestions to consume to ascertain quick recovery. Examples of soft foods are soups, yogurt, eggs, fish, well-cooked pasta, pudding, soft cheeses, etc.  But, don't eat spicy meals since they have the potential to irritate the gums. Also, avoid acidic foods that may irritate the surgery site. Also, don't eat anything with seeds that may dislodge blood clots. 

  • Avoid Smoking and Drinking With A Straw  

You'll begin to recover after blood clots develop to help you heal. Smoking itself may release these blood clots before they have a chance to start mending. Healing time will increase if blood clots are continually evacuated. Smoking and drinking with a straw may cause blood clots to form, which can be prevented by not smoking and not drinking from a straw. After your operation, don't start smoking again for at least 24 to 72 hours. Smoking has been shown to slow down the healing process. Smoking also reduces blood flow and exposes the mouth to bacteria and pollutants. After three days, the healing period will enable blood clots to form and the mending process to begin. 

  • Brush Your Teeth Carefully 

It would help if you didn't skip brushing and flossing because you recently had a dental operation. Oral care is essential at all times. However, brush gently, particularly around the operated site. To be safe, don't brush or rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. After that, brush gently, avoiding the swelling area. Likewise, don't gargle or swirl the water around in your mouth.  

Conclusion  

One of the essential things you can do to guarantee a quick recovery following dental surgery is to follow your surgeon's or dentist's recommendations. While you're recovering, it's a good idea to keep the above dos and don'ts in mind.Mosst importantly, before any dental surgery, you should be prepared and aware of what to anticipate during and after the process. By doing so, you'll be emotionally and physically ready for your journey to recovery. 
Categorized into General Health
Tagged in Cold,Diet
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