How To Properly Recover From Oral Surgery

Wisdom teeth removal and tooth extractions are common types of oral surgery. Like all surgeries, oral surgery can sound scary. Fortunately, thanks to modern dentistry techniques, anesthesia, and sedation, these procedures are not painful. What happens afterward? How do you properly recover?

Rest

Rest is arguably the most important thing for proper recovery. After your surgery, you should take the rest of the day to lie down with your head elevated by an extra pillow. It’s a great time to catch up on reading, watching TV shows, or napping. Many people can go back to work or school after 2-3 days, but you should avoid heavy lifting or intense exercise. The more intensive the surgery, the more rest you’ll need.

Eat Soft Foods

After oral surgery, a blood clot forms to protect the bone. Eating hard or crunchy foods can dislodge the clot, so you need to stick with liquids and soft foods. The first 24 hours after surgery, you can enjoy applesauce, smoothies, creamy (lukewarm) soups, smooth mashed potatoes, and yogurt. When you can chew a little more, try soft scrambled eggs and oatmeal. The surgery site will be sensitive, so avoid anything super hot or spicy.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

Keeping your mouth clean after oral surgery protects you from infection. For the first 24 hours after surgery, you shouldn’t brush your teeth or rinse your mouth. The blood clot needs to form. After 24 hours, you may be able to return to brushing, but you’ll still need to avoid the surgery site. You may also be instructed to gently rinse with warm saltwater. We’ll always provide detailed instructions on post-surgery oral hygiene.

Oral Surgery at Cherry Blossom Family Dentistry in Burleson, Dallas, & Keller

Our dentists offer oral surgeries like tooth extractions and wisdom teeth removal. Before a procedure, we’ll talk about what you can expect, what recovery will look like, and any instructions on medication and cleaning. Visit us at Uptown Dental Studio in Dallas, Cherry Blossom Family Dentistry in Burleson, or Highland Oaks Family Dentistry in Keller. If you have any questions or want to book an appointment, please contact us today!

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