From the dishes you make on Thanksgiving to how to welcome in the new year, the holiday season is filled with traditions. If you recently had oral surgery (or your appointment is rapidly approaching), you might be wondering what your festivities will look like while you recover. Fortunately, you can enjoy the holidays and properly heal! For a few tips to help, read on.
1. Rest, Rest, Rest
As always, getting plenty of rest is a priority while you recover from oral surgery. If you’re planning on traveling out of town, make sure to talk to your dentist since sometimes flying the day or two after is not recommended. If you have a family that loves to be active by playing games or touch football, cheer them on from the sidelines instead. You can get involved in other festivities, like watching classic holiday movies!
2. Stick to Soft Foods
Pecan pie, cheesy popcorn, and peppermint bark are a few holiday staples that you might have to pass on this year. Don’t worry – there are plenty of delicious options that are smile-friendly too! Some popular ones include stuffing, mashed potatoes, soft meats, pumpkin pie, baked yams, and applesauce.
3. Prioritize Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Your oral hygiene routine is important year-round, but it’s especially crucial while you recover from oral surgery. To keep your mouth clean, follow all of your dentist’s post-op instructions, like carefully brushing and flossing after each meal. It’s also important to avoid unhealthy dental habits, like smoking, chewing on ice, and using your teeth as tools to open things.
4. Make Water Your Beverage of Choice
Although water often is overlooked for being “too plain,” it’s the best choice post-op. In addition to helping prevent dry mouth, this beverage is sugar-free and helps rinse food particles from your teeth. Soda, fruit juice, sports drinks, energy drinks, and wine should be avoided in the short-term. At least until your dentist gives you the green light.
5. Keep the Essentials On Hand
While you’re recovering from oral surgery, it’s important to keep the essentials on hand. An over-the-counter pain reliever (one that’s approved by your dentist) and a cold compress are both helpful when it comes to reducing discomfort and alleviating inflammation. If you forget these at home, try making your own disinfectant solution with two household staples: salt and water. All you need to do is dissolve some salt in a glass of warm water before using the mixture to rinse. This will help keep your mouth clean while also preventing an infection!
The holidays only come once a year, and you deserve to enjoy them to the fullest. Fortunately, recovering from oral surgery won’t stop you. Just make sure to keep the above tips in mind!
About the Practice
At Boerne Dental Center, our three talented dentists have decades of clinical experience and training. So, you can confidently place your smile in their hands for everything from essential preventive care to pain-relieving tooth extractions. Plus, we proudly offer sedation options for patients who are nervous or need a little extra help staying comfortable during a long procedure. If you have a question about the recovery process or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (830) 249-2045.