How to Take Care of Teeth After Oral Surgery

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Dental surgery

Taking care of your teeth is very important part of personal hygiene. Brushing twice a day and seeing a dentist once a year can keep your teeth in good condition so they'll last a lifetime. Sometimes, though, even good dental care doesn't prevent the need of oral surgery. This can include root canal, tooth extractions or periodontal gum exploration. Taking care of the teeth after surgery is important to minimize pain and promote healing of the area.

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Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Prescription for pain medicine After-surgery instructions from the surgeon Liquid or soft diet

After-Care of Dental Surgery Helps Healing

Step 1

Understand that it is not unusual to have pain after the anesthesia starts to wear off. Take a prescription pain pill an hour after the surgery so that it overlaps the injection. Continue to use as directed. The following day, Tylenol might suffice if the pain has subsided.
Step 2

Do not smoke, use a straw or rinse your mouth. Each oral surgery might be different but the instructions for after-care is mainly the same.
Step 3

Rest with little or no activity for about two days. This is to make sure that there is no residual bleeding. You probably will not feel like doing more than watching TV anyway.
Step 4

Ice pack

Place an ice pack (frozen peas works), immediately over the area for 20 minutes-on and 10 minutes-off for the first day. This will minimize swelling.
Step 5

Have a liquid diet for the first day, and a soft diet the next day, avoiding chewing on the area of surgery. Foods such as cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, applesauce, jello, puddings, mashed bananas and sour cream are acceptable. Avoid all hot drinks or soups.

Tips & Warnings

One of the best soft foods to have after surgery is a Frosty. It is cooling, refreshing and filling. Buy a package of instant mashed potatoes that needs only for you to add water and place in the microwave. Ice cream is great. It is cooling to the gums.
Unless otherwise instructed, it is best to leave the area of surgery alone for a day. Next day, brushing and gentle rinsing with warm salt water is advised. Follow your own doctor's instructions for the best and fastest healing results.