Going through a dental operation can be stressful, and it’s essential to take care of your teeth and mouth post-operation. Following these emergency post-op dental care tips will help you avoid complications and keep your teeth and mouth healthy. In this post, we’ll go through some tips to care for your teeth and mouth after an operation.
What is Emergency Post-Op Dental Care?
First, what do we mean when we talk about emergency post-op dental care? This includes the extra care and precautions you’ll need to take after emergency dental care or scheduled dental operations. This might include the following, though this isn’t an exhaustive list:
- Wisdom teeth removal: This is one of the most common types of dental surgeries. Most people undergo this surgery in their teen years or young adulthood, in order to keep their wisdom teeth from disrupting their other teeth or hurting their gums. During your wisdom teeth surgery recovery, it’s important to follow these post-op dental care tips.
- Tooth removal: If your tooth is cracked, infected, or otherwise hurting, it might need to be removed. This is another common procedure.
- Root canal: A root canal can save a tooth if it’s been infected. This procedure clears away the infected tissue around the tooth root and prevents infection from spreading.
Dental implants: If you lose a tooth, a dental implant can replace it with a false tooth that feels and looks real.
BDG is available 24 hours for patients after dental procedures
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Emergency Post-Op Dental Care Tips
If you had a dental procedure like some of those previously mentioned, it’s important to take care of your teeth and mouth after the procedure. Here are a few emergency post-op dental care tips to keep in mind.
1. Keep Your Mouth Clean
Keeping your mouth clean is one of the best emergency post-op dental care tips to keep in mind. After your operation, your dentist may recommend that you avoid brushing your teeth for a specific period. Instead, you can rinse your mouth with warm saltwater or any other mouthwash your dentist provides to help keep your mouth clean. You can prepare the saltwater by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish the saltwater in your mouth for 30 seconds, and spit it out. Start brushing and flossing your teeth again when your dentist recommends, or follow the instructions they provided.
2. Eat Soft Foods
After a dental operation, you may experience pain and discomfort in your mouth, which can make it challenging to eat. You should follow a soft diet that does not require too much chewing. You can eat foods like mashed potatoes, soup, and smoothies to get the nutrients your body needs to heal.
3. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking and drinking alcohol can slow down the healing process in your mouth. It’s a good idea to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol after your operation, so your body will be able to heal faster. Smoking can also increase the risk of infection and dry socket, a painful condition that occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the wound where a tooth has been extracted.
4. Avoid Strenuous Activities
Strenuous activities can increase your blood pressure, which can lead to complications after your operation. It’s essential to avoid strenuous activities like heavy lifting, jogging, or playing sports for the first few days after your operation. Your dentist will advise you when you can resume physical activity, and what physical activities you can start doing again.
5. Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions
Your dentist will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for your teeth and mouth after the operation. It’s essential to follow these instructions carefully to ensure you heal properly. Be sure that you understand your dentist’s instructions before you leave the office.
If your operation requires general anesthetic, your dentist or orthodontist might explain the instructions both before and after. In this case, it’s a good idea to have a friend or family member looking after you for a day or two. Then, your dentist or orthodontist will probably explain the instructions to them as well.
6. Look for Signs of Complications
If you experience any complications or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. If you’re feeling more pain than normal, such as pain that makes it difficult to sleep, or you notice abnormal discoloration around the surgery area, you should contact your dentist. BDG provides a 24-hour helpline to patients who have undergone surgery, so we can prevent any complications immediately.
Following these post-op dental care tips can help you care for your teeth and mouth effectively after your operation. If you experience any complications, contact your dentist immediately. If you have any questions about dental emergency services or scheduled dental procedures like wisdom teeth removal, we can help. Make an appointment today to get your questions answered and learn more.
