Dental surgery
Taking care of your teeth is very important part of personal hygiene. Brushing twice a day and seeing a dentist once a year can keep your teeth in good condition so they'll last a lifetime. Sometimes, though, even good dental care doesn't prevent the need of oral surgery. This can include root canal, tooth extractions or periodontal gum exploration. Taking care of the teeth after surgery is important to minimize pain and promote healing of the area.
Instructions
After-Care of Dental Surgery Helps Healing
1. Understand that it is not unusual to have pain after the anesthesia starts to wear off. Take a prescription pain pill an hour after the surgery so that it overlaps the injection. Continue to use as directed. The following day, Tylenol might suffice if the pain has subsided.
2. Do not smoke, use a straw or rinse your mouth. Each oral surgery might be different but the instructions for after-care is mainly the same.
3. Rest with little or no activity for about two days. This is to make sure that there is no residual bleeding. You probably will not feel like doing more than watching TV anyway.
4. Place an ice pack (frozen peas works), immediately over the area for 20 minutes-on and 10 minutes-off for the first day. This will minimize swelling.
5. Have a liquid diet for the first day, and a soft diet the next day, avoiding chewing on the area of surgery. Foods such as cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, applesauce, jello, puddings, mashed bananas and sour cream are acceptable. Avoid all hot drinks or soups.
Tags: after surgery, Taking care, your teeth
