Tips to Recover from Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is any procedure performed on the teeth, gums, or jaw. After surgery, there’s a recovery period that varies in length, depending on the work you had done to your mouth. It’s crucial to stick to your surgeon’s post-operative instructions to have the smoothest recovery possible.

Stay tuned to learn more about oral surgery recovery times. 

Information on Oral Surgery Recovery

If you recently scheduled an oral surgery appointment, you may be feeling anxious about all the unknowns involved, including questions about healing time. Generally, you can get your procedure out of the way in just a few hours, and your surgeon will send you home with a list of post-operative care instructions. Even though there isn’t much you can do to speed up your recovery time, we recommend you prepare for your aftercare in advance.

Here are three tips to make sure your oral surgery recovery goes well. 

1. Ice the Area

You may already know this, but using an icepack on a swollen area helps reduce pain. However, when it comes to applying ice around your mouth, you need to be careful with the amount you use and the length of time you apply it on. For instance, if you apply ice on your jaw for too long, it may become more challenging to open your mouth because it might go numb. 

Fortunately, your oral surgeon will provide you with icing instructions specific to your procedure. They might recommend applying a small icepack to the side of your face where the surgery was performed for 20-minute intervals (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off). 

2. Take Your Medicine

If you have minor oral surgery, your surgeon might prescribe you a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine to ease your post-operative pain. Generally, oral surgeons are careful not to prescribe opioids as the first line of pain medications for oral surgery. Many professionals are apprehensive because these drugs carry a risk of dependence and other undesirable effects, such as sedation, respiratory depression, and constipation.

However, if you’re going through a more invasive procedure, such as getting multiple teeth extracted, your oral surgeon may prescribe opioids to treat breakthrough pain. 

For maximum relief and to avoid taking opioids, we recommend an around-the-clock pain regimen rather than treating pain only when it surfaces. Taking your prescribed medication every few hours instead of only when you’re swelling will keep you on track to recover in no time. 

3. Maintain Your Oral Hygiene

Some people make the mistake of neglecting their oral health after surgery because they feel too tired or in pain to upkeep it; however, your oral surgeon will advise you to brush gently with warm water (not toothpaste). You will also need to rinse with a saline or saltwater solution. 

Schedule Your Surgery with Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah

If your dentist believes you need oral surgery, you can count on the board-certified oral surgeons from Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah. We specialize in tooth extraction, dental implant insertion, bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery, and more. Our promise is a transparent and professional experience with your best interests at heart. 

We have offices in South Jordan, Cottonwood Heights, and Tooele. Schedule your free consultation today.