How to Speed Up Recovery after Oral Surgery

If you have oral surgery planned in the near future, you may be thinking ahead regarding your recovery. You know that you’ll need to spend some time in recovery, but you definitely want to minimize that recovery time — so what do you do? Below, you’ll learn about some tried and true tips for speedy and comfortable recovery following your oral surgery.

The Things You Should Do to Speed Up Recovery After Oral Surgery

Oral surgery recovery can be much easier and faster if you follow a short list of guidelines. Dr. Sedaros will give you some guidelines specific to your situation after your oral surgery procedure, but in most cases the following things will greatly speed up and generally enhance your recovery overall.

Rest: Allow yourself some time to simply relax on the day of your oral surgery. Don’t lay flat, though: keep your head elevated because this can help alleviate swelling. Depending on what type of procedure you had, you may feel well enough to get back into your routine within a few days. Regardless of how long you take off work total, make sure that you spend the remainder of the first day just resting.
Ice: Ice compresses can be extremely helpful in reducing swelling and alleviating your pain. If you start icing after you get home and then keep up intervals of 15 minutes or so, you may find that you’ll feel better much more quickly than you otherwise would.
Soft diet: You’ll need to eat a soft diet for a few days following your oral surgery procedure. Choose flavorful but easily edible foods like milkshakes, smoothies, soft scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt. By eating a soft diet, you’re reducing the chances of complications or irritations at your surgery site and this will speed your recovery along. You’ll be able to gradually start eating regular food, but avoiding very hard or crunchy foods, over the weeks after your procedure. Of course, it’s best to avoid chewing on the surgery area until it’s totally healed.
Medication: You’ll probably get antibiotics after surgery, and it’s crucial that you finish all of them. Antibiotics prevent infection and can help make your recovery smooth and easy. If you have prescription pain medicine, take it when you need it, without letting the pain get out of control first. Taper off the pain medicine as soon as you can, moving on to over the counter pain relievers recommended by Dr. Sedaros. Minimizing the amount of prescription pain medication that you take can help you feel more like yourself and more ready to resume your regular routine faster.
Mouth rinse: Dr. Sedaros may recommend using a mouth rinse like a saltwater rinse starting the day after your procedure. Use the rinse as directed to help keep your mouth clean, avoid infection, and speed up the healing process.

The Things You Should Avoid After Oral Surgery

There are also a few things to stay away from when you’re trying to speed up your recovery. These include:

No strenuous movement for at least a few days
No extreme temperature foods
No hard foods until Dr. Sedaros gives you the all-clear
No smoking, as it can inhibit your healing

Most patients who follow the guidelines for oral surgery recovery strictly are able to recover quickly and with a minimum of disruption and pain. Thanks to the state-of-the-art dental equipment and procedures available today, oral surgery doesn’t have to come with a long and drawn out recovery period. Many patients have oral surgery and then get back to most of their regular routines, including work, in as little as a week or even less. Dr. Sedaros will discuss your individual case with you and will give you specific recommendations to help you have the optimal healing and recovery process.

If you’re ready to experience a smooth and easy oral surgery procedure with an expert Melbourne, Florida oral surgeon, get in touch with Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants today.