Oral surgery is not something that you want to go through, but if you are suffering from any number of dental conditions, there may not be another treatment option that is more effective. Sadly, the recovery process from oral surgery can be somewhat intensive, and many patients may find this one of the worst parts of undergoing surgery. Fortunately, there are a couple of simple tips that you can follow to help ensure that your oral surgery recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Rinse With Salty Water
For the first several days following your oral surgery, you should make it a point to rinse your mouth out with extremely salty water. While this can cause discomfort, it is excellent for reducing the chances of an infection developing because the salt can help sterilize your wound.
When rinsing with salt water, you should keep swishing it in your mouth for at least a minute of two. This will give the salt enough time to kill any developing bacteria, but you need to make sure to be gentle when swishing with this solution because aggressively doing this can lead to you developing a painful dry socket that might take multiple days to heal.
Monitor For Signs Of Infection
When your mouth is in the recovery phase, you need to make it a point to inspect it for signs of infection at least once a day. Infections following dental procedures are a routine problem, and as long as this problem is diagnosed early, it can usually be treated with a special mouthwash or antibiotics.
During this inspection, you will be on the lookout for signs of pus, swelling, discoloration and general soreness. It is normal for these conditions to be present during the first few days, but most patients find they subside shortly thereafter. However, if these symptoms are continuing for a couple weeks after the procedure, this is likely a sign of infection, and you will need to schedule an appointment with your oral surgeon as soon as possible to have this potentially serious condition treated.
When you are unfortunate enough to require the use of oral surgery, it is important to understand that your actions will play a critical role in determining your recovery. By understanding the importance of rinsing your mouth with salt water and the warning signs of an infection at the surgery site, you should be much more capable of ensuring that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible. (For more information on oral surgery, you can contact Russel Bleiler DDS)
Share7 May 2015
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.