It’s Best to Know What to Expect after Oral Surgery

People undergoing oral surgery for the first time often don't know what exactly to expect during the recovery process, and could end up panicking or suffering paranoia due to the unfamiliar experience. However, what you should know is that many of these seemingly-strange effects are in fact normal, and can be alleviated by following some simple steps.

Slight bleeding after a periodontal procedure is normal. In fact you can expect it to persist up to 24 hours following the surgery. Buy a surgical gauze (or you could ask your dental surgeon for some) and bite down on it using firm pressure for about thirty minutes to one hour when profuse bleeding ensues.

Swelling is also pretty common in many oral or gum surgery procedures. Have an ice pack handy in the critical first 24 hours after the surgery so you can have something to help relieve the side of your face where the swelling is most apparent. Ordinarily, the swelling should be gone after 7 to 10 days.

Certain types of periodontal surgery procedures may result in varying levels of pain to course through your face and head in the first few post-operative days. Speak with your dentist beforehand about effective pain medications he can prescribe, making sure that you take it only according to his directions.

Avoid most dental hygiene practices that involve putting pressure on your gums and teeth for the first 24 hours (even vigorous rinsing and spitting is discouraged). In the following days however, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to take care of your chompers; but remain gentle when brushing around the surgery site.