By Lizzie Weakley
No one enjoys major dental procedures, but sometimes they can’t be avoided. Here are five ways to minimize the discomfort and recovery time of oral surgery.
Maintain Your Oral Health
It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but prevention is the best way to avoid needing serious—and seriously painful—dental work. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss once a day. Make an appointment to visit your dentist for a cleaning and a checkup every six months when possible.
Maintaining a healthy diet will also help keep your teeth in good health. Avoid these problem foods:
- Sugary drinks, including soft drinks, fruit juice, and sports drinks.
- Candy, especially hard candies that can chip tooth enamel and chewy candies that will stick to your teeth and weaken your enamel.
- Starches like potato chips, which get stuck in your teeth easily.
- Acidic foods like citrus, which damage tooth enamel.
Talk to Your Dentist
Whether you have general oral health concerns, or are worried about an upcoming procedure, your best course of action is to talk to your dentist. No one is more qualified to answer questions about your oral health.
If you are experiencing anxiety about an impending procedure, talk to your dentist about your options. Many dentists, like Saddleback Dental Center, have multiple sedation options, including nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” which can help alleviate anxiety during an operation. Your dentist may discuss using a particular technique during the surgery, condensing multiple procedures into a single appointment, or spreading out appointments so that you have plenty of recovery time.
Take Pain Medication
Over the counterpain medication won’t numb your mouth, but it can stave off the onset of pain after oral surgery and procedures. Taking a Tylenol or Advil half an hour before you head to the dentist’s office can minimize your after-procedure pain.
With most minor oral procedures, your dentist won’t provide any prescription anesthetic. However, if you experience more than the expected amount of pain, your dentist may be able to prescribe stronger pain medication. If you are going in for a periodontics procedure, such as gum grafts or a labial frenectomy, discuss pain relief options with your periodontistbeforehand.
Follow Aftercare Instructions
Your oral health care provider will give you some basic instructions for aftercare. These instructions are common:
- Apply ice to the affected area to reduce swelling. Leave the pack on for 15 minutes and then take it off for 15 minutes.
- Rinse with warm salt water to encourage healing one to four times a day.
- Avoid extremely hot and cold foods while you are recovering.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for as long as possible after the surgery, or at least 24 hours. Alcohol consumption and smoking can inhibit the healing process.
Be sure to follow any specific aftercare instructions your dentist gives you, including taking any prescribed antibiotics. If you notice excessive swelling, bleeding, or a reaction to your medication, contact your dentist immediately.
Take it Easy
Avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after a serious dental procedure. Don’t do any heavy lifting for two to three days afterward. It may seem like only a tiny portion of your body should be affected by oral surgery, but that’s simply not the case. You may experience fatigue or pain in connection to the surgery. If it’s more comfortable, you may want to spend some time lying down with your head propped on a pillow to decrease bleeding and swelling.
Follow these tips to prepare for oral surgery and encourage your mouth to heal quickly after the procedure. Consult your oral health care provider if you have any questions about what you can expect from your dental operation.