Even if you had oral surgery, you still need to take care of your gums and teeth as you heal. Now, more than ever, it’s essential that you follow ORIS dentists’ instructions. This way you can make sure you’re taking care of your mouth and teeth the right way. This is important not only for good dental care but also to make sure you’re taking the steps you need to after surgery. Here are some tips to keep your mouth clean after oral surgery:
Swish Warm Water Gently in Your Mouth Five to Six Times a Day, Particularly After Meals
The most important thing an ORIS dental patient can do after oral surgery is to keep their mouth clean. But that sounds hard to do if you’re still bleeding and you have a swollen mouth from your procedure. Our dentists say to rinse your mouth with warm water at least 5–6 times a day, especially after you eat, but not too hard. This will keep your mouth clean. With these gentle mouth rinses, you won’t have to worry about brushing around sensitive surgical sites to get rid of food particles.
Don't Floss If You Had a Gum Procedure
You probably didn’t think our dentists would tell you not to floss. But when you’re healing from oral surgery, it’s best to stop for a while. This is especially true if you’ve had work done on your gums. Whether you had a gum graft or a crown lengthening, wait to floss for a few days until your dentist tells you it’s okay to do so again.
If You're Bleeding After Oral Surgery, Change the Gauze Every Few Hours
Some ORIS patients who have oral surgeries will continue to bleed on the day of their surgery. They will be sent home with gauze in their mouths. It’s important to change your gauze every few hours until the bleeding stops. It helps both to keep it clean and to make sure it can soak up more blood.
Take Antibiotics Exactly as Your Dentist Tells You to
After oral surgeries, ORIS patients are occasionally given antibiotic prescriptions. If your dentist provides you antibiotics to help you get better, be sure to take each pill exactly as they tell you to. Yes, this means you might have to get up at 4 a.m. to make sure you don’t miss a dose.
No Brushing Hardly, and No Brushing at Your Surgical Site
You will probably want to brush your teeth the day after your oral surgery. After all, you don’t want to spend the whole day walking around the house with bad breath, do you? It’s important to brush gently and not too hard if you’re going to brush. Also, don’t brush the area where you had surgery. At this point in your recovery, it will be too sensitive to handle the bristles of your toothbrush, no matter how gently you use it.
Don't Use Antibacterial Mouthwashes Again Until We Tell You So
An excellent way to keep your mouth clean is to use antibacterial mouthwash once a day. But it’s not a good idea to do so right after oral surgery. The antibacterial properties or ingredients in the mouthwash that give it its flavour may be too harsh for your mouth after surgery, especially if your jawbone tissue is exposed, like after getting a tooth extraction.
Whether you’re about to have a procedure or are already home recovering, our team is always available to answer your post-op questions. In particular, you can ask our dentists about your case if you think something is unusual. Call ORIS Dental Clinics in Richmond Hill, Ontario, to make an appointment. Of course, you can always use our website as well.
