If you’re reading this, you probably just had a dental procedure involving oral surgery, or you’re planning for recovery after surgery sometime soon. Naturally, you most likely have many questions about oral surgery recovery, and mild discomfort and swelling are a normal response after a dental procedure while numbness may last for several hours, so you’ve come to the right place!
At the Shawn B. Davis, DMD, Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, Dental Implant Specialists, we’re your St. George oral surgery recovery experts. It’s absolutely crucial to take great care of your oral health following surgery by following your postoperative instructions, with the first priorities being to protect the blood clot, manage pain, and reduce swelling. We’ve compiled some of the most proven tips and tricks to help you have the fastest recovery possible! Most patients should plan to rest and keep normal activities limited for 24-48 hours after surgery.
This guide is part of our commitment to patient education during recovery.
Oral Hygiene After Oral Surgery
Patients who choose the Shawn B. Davis, DMD, Oral & Facial Surgery Institute for oral surgery in St. George, UT receive detailed hygiene and recovery instructions tailored to their specific procedure.
The first 24 hours
It is critical to be fully aware of what you can and cannot do in terms of oral hygiene directly following surgery. Most oral surgery operations involve some form of stitching to help heal the surgical site, especially more advanced oral and facial surgery procedures. Due to the nature of stitches, you should try to avoid vigorous rinsing and spitting for the first 24 hours following your oral surgery.
If rinsing is necessary, use warm water and gently swish it around in your mouth. When it comes time to spit, simply let the water fall out of your mouth into the sink, don’t force it out.
Brushing your teeth can also become a little tricky following surgery, yet maintaining oral health and overall wellness during this time is still very important. Try your best to only brush your teeth gently, and steer clear of the actual oral surgery site if at all possible.
Flossing may also be considered in the first 24 hours, but only do so gently. If you are unable to open your mouth wide enough to floss effectively, simply wait a day or so to be able to floss normally.
Mouthwash should also be avoided within the first 24-hour period following your oral surgery.
After the first 24 hours
After the first 24 hours following surgery, it is time to begin escalating the healing process, and specific postoperative sinus precautions may be necessary if your upper jaw or sinus area was involved. This can be done by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater or saline solution, which is typically recommended regardless of whether you had local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia during your oral surgery. The purpose of doing this is to help keep the surgical site clean and it will also aid with the healing process in a natural way.
Keep a close eye on your surgical site and watch for any abnormalities in the surrounding tissue, and reach out to our patient-centered oral surgery team if you have any concerns. If you notice discoloration or rapid swelling, contact your doctor immediately.
We hope some of these ideas help ease your mind and any pain you may experience following oral surgery, especially if you are recovering from dental implant surgery with local or general anesthesia.
Call the team at the Shawn B. Davis, DMD, Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, Dental Implant Specialists to schedule your next oral surgery appointment in St. George today, and discover why so many patients trust Dr. Shawn B. Davis for oral surgery and dental implants and rely on his board-certified expertise in St. George and Mesquite. (435) 628-1100