Oral surgery isn’t something most people actually look forward to, but it is something most people will have to face at some point in their lives. Whether you’ll need your wisdom teeth removed, or you’re faced with facial trauma that requires the knowledge of a specialist like one of our oral surgeons, men and women in Galesburg should feel confident and comfortable during their procedure at AOS.
Because our oral surgeons believe in fully educating their patients on every aspect of their surgery prior to their surgery date, we want to specifically help you prepare for your recovery process by providing hygiene and diet tips to follow after your oral surgery.
Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene After Oral Surgery
One of the biggest things you can do after you see one of our oral surgeons for surgery is to take care of your mouth properly. You may think that you should avoid hygiene altogether for an extended period of time after your procedure; however, you definitely don’t want to avoid proper oral hygiene—both for your sake and for the sake of others around you!
Immediately after oral surgery, patients in Galesburg should avoid direct contact with their surgical sites. Some surgeries require a gentle rinse on the day of surgery, while others may allow the use of a soft bristle toothbrush to clean the unaffected teeth. Patients may also use a Waterpik to rinse debris from their mouth and flush out anything that may be trapped between their teeth.
After the day of surgery, our oral surgeons ask patients to maintain traditional oral hygiene, while still being careful not to disrupt their surgical sites. Men and women should brush twice a day, floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash once a day, and attend post-op appointments required by our doctors.
What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Eat After Oral Surgery
No matter the surgical procedure you have, it is always important to eat healthy foods after surgery. Before visiting our oral surgeons in Galesburg, be sure to stock up on foods high in protein and foods with healthy fats and carbs. Eating the right foods will improve your recovery period and encourage proper healing.
For 1-2 days after your oral surgery, our oral surgeons recommend patients partake in a liquid diet. While this may sound daunting, it is still possible to maintain a healthy diet during this time. Consider consuming the following foods as healthy liquid options:
- Water or flavored water
- Protein smoothies
- Puréed soup
- Pureed fruit
- Vegetable juices
- Bone broths
During the time of your liquid diet, be sure to avoid the use of a straw. Instead, consume these foods with a spoon or directly from a bowl. The sucking motion required when using a straw can cause the needed blood clot to dislodge from your surgical site. When this happens, a painful condition known as dry socket can occur.
As our oral surgeons direct, move on from your liquid diet to a soft foods diet for several days after your surgery. Be careful to avoid spicy foods or acidic foods during this time, as these can cause discomfort at your surgical site.
The following soft foods are good options while recovering from oral surgery:
- Greek yogurt
- Instant oatmeal
- Mashed potatoes
- Hummus
- Mashed bananas
- Scrambled eggs
- Boiled eggs
- Ripe avocado
- Cottage cheese
- Flaky fish
- Applesauce
- Ice cream
Call Our Doctors at AOS Dental Surgery in Galesburg to Learn More
As you can see, it is important to follow the recommendations of our oral surgeons after surgery. If you still have questions or concerns, feel free to call our office in Galesburg at (309) 322-9995.
