Avoid sucking through a straw, aggressively rinsing your mouth, and spitting for the first 72 hours after oral surgery to prevent blood clots from loosening. Rinse gently in the following days. Also, avoid touching the site with your finger, toothbrush, floss, or anything else because it might cause irritation.
Rest is important following oral surgery and it is recommended for at least two days following the procedure. It is not recommended to engage in physical activity for two to three days after your surgery. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within 48 hours after surgery.
It is important to avoid the following foods for the first week following surgery as they can cause pain and delayed healing: Spicy foods. Citrus juices. Foods that are difficult to chew (steak and deli meats)
Additionally, dairy products are harder for your body to digest as they contain casein protein, which slows down digestion significantly and increases inflammation throughout the body. This can delay the healing process and cause more discomfort.
After a tooth extraction, a blood clot should form at the site of the missing tooth. The clot is a vital part of the body's healing process. Unfortunately, drinking coffee can prevent that clot from forming or disturb a newly formed clot, leading to a painful condition known as dry socket.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
Rest. Restrict your activities the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable. Avoid excessive physical activity like sports, exercise, bending over or heavy lifting for 3-5 days following surgery.
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.
Most oral surgeons advise patients to avoid physical exertion for the first 4 days after surgery. Exercise can lead to an increase in blood pressure, which can cause the extraction site to bleed. Worst of all, the blood clot that grows in the extraction area after surgery may be dislodged, leading to dry socket.
The swelling will build over the first 48 to 72 hours and then plateau for 2-3 days making the 3rd-5th days the worst for pain and swelling. A low grade fever is common immediately after the surgery but to call if the fever exceeds 101 degrees.
After the surgery, the extraction area may ooze. It's mainly during the starting healing stages. Therefore, pick the right position while sleeping. Generally, the dentist recommends sleeping on the side rather than lying flat on the back.
Avoid rinsing the mouth, brushing near the extraction site, and eating foods that require chewing for at least 24 hours. Patients usually can resume tooth brushing and flossing on day 2 of recovery, but should refrain from brushing on the extraction site for the first three days to ensure your clot stays in place.
It's essential to relax and take it easy for the first few days after surgery. Avoid engaging in high-intensity exercises such as running, karate, swimming, and all other intense workouts. Generally, it would be best if you waited one week before heading back to the gym.
Pain. It is normal for post-operative pain to increase in the first 1-2 days along with swelling which usually peaks at about 48 hours.
Protect the Surgical Area
Limit talking, eating and drinking for the first few hours after surgery. You should also avoid spitting, so you don't disturb your wound.
Tissue damage leads to inflammation (swelling). Inflammation and pain share many of the same chemical pathways in the body. Thus, the more inflammation, the more pain following the surgery.
Bread and crackers
Bread is typically tough to chew after wisdom tooth removal and you are generally recommended to avoid any foods that could get stuck to your surgery site. Crackers and breads are notorious for getting stuck on teeth and stuck in the mouth and that can only cause trouble post oral surgery.
How Long After Tooth Extraction Can I Eat Solid Foods? After tooth extraction near you, it is essential to understand what, when, and how to eat. A dentist generally recommends strictly avoiding solid foods for 24 hours. After that window, you can resume eating them again.
Tooth extractions are common procedures. However, it is crucial that you follow your post-procedure instructions as directed by your dentist. These instructions will advise you to avoid hot liquids such as coffee, tea, hot cider, cocoa, etc., for the first few days after your extraction.
Protein is one of the main ingredients during the healing process. Since it is responsible for tissue regeneration, drinking yogurt could help you when recovering from oral surgery. Tropical yogurt contains about 12 grams of protein in 7 ounces of yogurt.
Yogurt is a nutritious high-protein food you can enjoy after dental surgery. It has a smooth and creamy texture that may help soothe and numb your mouth.