Are you or a family member going to be undergoing a dental surgery soon? Perhaps you have recently undergone surgery, and you are wondering what you should be doing to improve your dental health now that the surgery is complete. Naturally, you will want to listen to the advice of your dental healthcare professionals. However, there are some simple tips that you will want to follow to make sure you heal properly.
Tips to Keep in Mind
First, you do not want to rinse your mouth out for at least the first 24 hours after you have undergone the surgery. You will not want anything to come into contact with the surgical site. The following day, you can rinse out your mouth with some salt added to a cup of lukewarm water. Rather than typical swishing, though, you will simply want to move your head gently back and forth to get the water around the mouth. This will help to remove germs. You can do this up to six times per day.
Those who have had gum grafts or root canals will want to avoid brushing their teeth for at least a week. Again, you can ask your dentist about how long you should wait before you brush your teeth, just to be sure. They may want to you to come in, so they can look at the surgical site before giving you the go-ahead to brush.
After surgery, you might notice that your jaw and jaw muscles feel sore, and you will not be able to open your mouth fully. That is normal, and the feeling can last for several days to a week. You should never try to force your mouth open. You can, however, use a warm, damp cloth on the face to gently massage the jaw.
When you are eating, do not chew in the area of the surgical site. You will also want to avoid eating hard, sticky foods for at least a week or two as the site heals.
Once You Are Healed
Before long, you will heal fully from the oral surgery. At this point, you will be able to resume your regular oral healthcare routine. This means brushing and flossing and visiting the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. By taking great care of your teeth and gums, it will reduce the risk of other issues cropping up that could require further surgery.
For your dental surgery needs, at Rothermel Family Dentistry you are in good hands. Rothermel Family Dentistry practice their dental services in Jennings, LA and Crowley, LA.
