Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush (child size works well). Use a circular motion and angle the brush at 45 degrees toward the gum line. Rinse your mouth with a solution of warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt in one 8-ounce glass of warm water). Oral rinsing should be done after every meal.
After each meal, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush (child-size works well). Stand over the sink with your head tilted down and use a circular motion and angle the brush at 45 degrees toward the gum line. Use Peridex or a mouthwash without alcohol such as Biotene instead of toothpaste.
Initially, you may want to avoid toothpaste, and simply use a toothbrush and warm water. Brush after each meal, and stay on the teeth and surrounding gums and avoid the incision sites. After brushing, if your doctor has prescribed an oral rinse, you may use that as directed.
In fact, you should not brush your teeth for 1 full week after surgery, otherwise the incisions can be damaged and bleeding may start. You should use warm saline rinses (1/2 teaspoon slat in a tumbler of warm water).
You may have some soreness and may have some difficulty in opening your mouth. This may prevent you from brushing the tongue side of your teeth. This will improve in time and you should be able to accomplish this without difficulty within the first week to ten days after surgery.
The swelling can be fairly dramatic after some jaw surgeries. We recommend that you keep your head elevated (on 2–3 pillows or in a recliner) for up to a week or so after surgery. Swelling may take several weeks to resolve completely.
You must avoid hot, prolonged showers which may cause bleeding in the upper jaw if surgery is performed there. Avoid exercises, any heavy lifting or activity that raises your blood pressure or pulse for at least one month after the surgery.
Don't try to fight them and open or move your jaw. If you need to cough, sneeze, or yawn, use your hand to support below your chin to avoid the tendency to try to open your mouth!
Following oral surgery, we recommend that you sleep with your head and shoulders propped up above your heart level. Add an extra pillow or two to your bed or to the place where you will be resting. If you have a recliner, this is also an excellent way to keep your head elevated.
You will need to eat a soft diet which needs very little chewing for at least six weeks after the surgery. This diet sheet goes through meal ideas for a liquid, purée, blended and soft diet.
All the stitches inside the mouth are resorbable and dissolve after 3 to 4 weeks. You will have small titanium plates and screws (mini-plates) in your jaws. The titanium plates and screws in your upper and lower jaws will not be noticeable to you and will remain indefinitely.
The swelling will occur mostly at the sides of the jaw in the area of surgery and will reduce significantly in 2 weeks. By 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively, the tissues will appear almost normal to you. The final definition is attained approximately 4 months following surgery.
You may wash your hair if you cover your incision with a guaze dressing and keep it dry. If your sutures have been removed, apply an antibiotic ointment for one week and keep the incision clean.
Brushing too early here may result in the premature loss of stitches and delayed healing. After the first 5-days, you can start gently brushing from the gum to the tooth with either a baby's toothbrush or a post-surgical brush provided. Both these brushes have very soft bristles that cannot harm the tissues.
After surgery, you'll be quite sore. It may take several hours for the swelling in your mouth to go down as well. On the same day of surgery, you should not brush near the extraction site. However, you should start normal brushing again the very next day, according to the American Dental Association.
Swelling: You can expect swelling to be the worst in the first week after oral surgery. It's usually most noticeable from three to five days after surgery, then it gradually lessens. Bruising: Bruising often accompanies swelling, and it dissipates as the swelling subsides.
INSTRUCTIONS for CARE of WOUND The pressure bandage (Jaw Bra) should be worn continuously for about 48 hours. After 48 hours, the bandage may be used as a jaw “support” as needed. Many patients find that it is useful for several days until jaw strength improves.
The blood vessels are still healing from the surgery and any increase in activity may cause bleeding. You may begin gentle exercise (eg walking on a treadmill) after 2 weeks, but do not do any cardio for 4-6 weeks after the surgery. Avoid any contact sport, any sport with a ball, or any aggressive sports.
Blowing of the nose: Do not blow your nose or sneeze with your mouth closed for at least 1 week following upper jaw surgery. This can cause air to be forced into your cheeks and lower eyelids with immediate severe swelling.
Increased stress hormones: Surgery is emotionally and physically stressful. This can lead to an increase in stress hormones in the body, which in turn makes sleep more challenging.
It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.
Following your surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period, especially if your jaw is wired shut, you could lose as much as 10 percent of your body weight. Prior to your surgery it's OK to gain a few pounds in anticipation of this possible weight loss.
Pain and swelling are not uncommon after jaw surgery, and the severity coincides with the extensiveness of your surgical procedure. Minor pain is often well managed with over the counter pain medications. However, we will prescribe you stronger pain medication should your pain be more severe.
You should drink at least two to three liters of water or sports hydration drink, such as Gatorade a day to keep your body adequately hydrated. We recommend having medicated lip balm on hand when you return home after your procedure.