Oral surgery recovery times vary depending on the procedure. You can expect to feel some discomfort, swelling, and tenderness for at least the first few days after your surgery. In most cases, it takes the gums a week or two to recover. However, it can take several months for the jaw to fully heal after extensive surgeries such as dental implant placement.
But no matter whether you’re having wisdom teeth removed or dental implants placed, you’ll need to take good care of your mouth afterward. There are several ways to speed up healing after an oral surgery. Here’s what you can do to recover quickly and get back to your normal lifestyle.
How to Speed Up Healing After Oral Surgery
1: Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions
Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you detailed post-operative instructions tailored to your procedure. These personalized instructions are critical for minimizing complications and promoting faster healing, so make sure to follow them diligently.
2: Try PRF Therapy
Platelet-rich Fibrin (PRF) therapy uses your blood to create a fibrin matrix rich in platelets and growth factors. This matrix is applied to the surgical site and naturally promotes healing after oral surgery, reducing swelling and discomfort. Copper Creek Dental offers PRF therapy as an option to help make your recovery as quick and comfortable as possible.
3: Get Plenty of Rest
Rest is crucial after any type of surgery, because it allows your body to direct more energy towards healing. Make sure to avoid strenuous activities for at least three to five days. You may also want to ask a family member or friend to help care for your children or pets so you can get some extra rest.
4: Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Keeping your mouth clean is essential to prevent infection. Continue to brush and floss your teeth as usual after your surgery, but avoid brushing near the surgical site until it has fully healed.
You must avoid rinsing for the first 24 hours after your surgery, because it may cause the blood clot at the surgical site to fall out or prevent it from forming. This can lead to a painful condition called dry socket and delay the healing process. After two days, you may rinse gently with a saltwater mixture (½ teaspoon of salt and 8 oz warm water) twice a day to keep the surgical site clean. Gently rinse your mouth after every meal to remove food debris.
Do not spit for the first seven days—after rinsing, let the water fall out of your mouth instead of spitting it out.
5: Eat Soft Foods
Before your surgery, remember to stock your kitchen with enough soft foods to get you through the next five days. Eating things like yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce, smoothies, scrambled eggs, and soups will help you prevent accidental injuries and recover more quickly. Avoid hot foods and drinks as well as spicy, hard, and crunchy foods to prevent injuries to the surgical site.
8: Take Your Prescription Medication
Your dentist or surgeon may prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics to manage pain and prevent infection. Always take these medications as directed, even if you start to feel better.
9: Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Nicotine and alcohol can slow the healing process and increase the risk of complications. If you undergo dental implant surgery, nicotine can weaken the bone, increasing the risk of implant failure. Smoking and vaping can also cause dry socket. You should also limit alcohol consumption before surgery as well as during your recovery to ensure a successful treatment.
10: Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is crucial for your general health and for faster healing. Staying hydrated helps keep your mouth clean and supports the body’s natural healing process. However, you should avoid drinking through a straw for the first seven days after oral surgery. Using a straw can cause the blood clot to dislodge.
Fast and Comfortable Oral Surgery in South Jordan, Utah
By following these tips, you can promote faster healing and return to your daily routine more quickly. Whether you need a tooth extraction or want to transform your smile with dental implants, Copper Creek Dental performs fast and effective oral surgeries. And with PRF therapy, we’ll help you boost your body’s natural healing abilities after surgery. Give us a call at 801-280-1911 today to schedule an appointment for an oral surgery consultation.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (6/18/2024). Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash