Post Oral Surgery

How to Enjoy the Holidays After Oral Surgery

Venture Creative on November 29, 2019

For anyone that is planning on having surgery before the holidays, some of the most wonderful food is soft enough to still eat. So, if you thought you would be missing out on food, think again. Here are a few of the best things to eat during the holidays after oral surgery.

Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are probably one of the first foods you thought about when it comes to a big holiday dinner. Good thing that these wonderful mountains of mouthwatering potatoes are on the safe list to eat this holiday season.

Aside from being soft enough, potatoes are also rich in calories and nutrients which is essential for proper healing.

Green Beans

Not only are green beans a nice low-calorie side, they are soft enough to eat!

Tender green beans are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, Vitamin K, and folate. They are a great post-surgery food AND they are good for you too!

Yams

Yams are yet another delicious dish that makes for a great post oral surgery eat! Yams alone have a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help fight inflammation. They have many benefits and are quite healthy, if you avoid eating them with marshmallows that is.

Pie

Alright, we have saved the best for last. PIE! As long as there are no nuts or seeds in it, pie is a good soft food to consume post-surgery. Pie is typically soft enough and uses little to no chewing. Soft and sweet, let your recent surgery be the excuse for eating too much pie.

Avoid

There are unfortunately foods that will need to be avoided or eaten with caution. You will want to be cautious with meat as it tends to be too tough to chew. With stuffing, some are made with hard bits and chunks which can get stuck into sites and cause irritation. Take caution with rolls. They may be soft, but they can get trapped in open wounds. Avoid things like pecan pie, or at least remove the pecans before eating. Avoiding nuts and seeds are key to healing.

To set up a consultation, please call our office at (435) 238-7083.

Sedation & Wisdom Teeth Surgery: What You Need To Know

Venture Creative on October 12, 2019

The thought of sedation or surgery can be intimidating for some people. Here at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, we can assure you that there is nothing to worry about, as you will never be left with any unanswered questions regarding sedation or your wisdom teeth removal. Here are some sedation tips to ease your fears.

PRE-SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS

There is nothing worse than going into surgery not knowing what you need to do to prepare for it. When you schedule at our office, you will be given sedation instructions twice. Once when scheduling your appointment, and the second time at your confirmation call. Here is how to prepare:

Nothing to eat or drink for eight hours prior to surgery.
Must have a responsible driver to drive you home after surgery.
Remove any nail polish on the first two fingers on each hand.
Take any daily medications with a tiny sip of water in the morning.
If on a blood thinner please notify us prior to your appointment (it may affect scheduling).
If you were sent with a blue referral card, bring that with you.
Payment is due at the time of service.
We do offer our paperwork online, feel free to fill it out beforehand or come in five minutes early to fill it out in office.

POST SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS

Don’t panic if you have never taken care of someone or yourself after sedation. We will make sure that you or your driver fully understand our at-home care instructions. And don’t forget, we are just one call away if you have any other care questions.

When you leave our office, you will be biting down on gauze. You will also be sent home with extra in a baggie. Change the gauze as needed every 20-30 minutes until it is a light pink color. That indicates there is mostly saliva and that the bleeding is slowing down.
You will be sent home with an irrigating syringe to be started on the third day after surgery. Make sure you stick the entire tip into the site to flush out all of the food. If not, it can lead to swelling and infections. Continue this until the holes are entirely healed.
Rinse with Peridex mouth rinse in the morning and evenings.
Take the antibiotic prescribed to prevent infections.
Eat soft foods for a few days such as yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, or soups (anything that is soft enough to mush with a fork).
Avoid straw use for three days.
Use ice packs on and off for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling.

Healing

You will want to get as much rest as possible post-procedure. Most people are feeling back to normal in 3-7 days as long as the above rules are followed.

If you have an active lifestyle, you will want to rest for at least three days. After which you can resume normal activity as long as you are feeling up to it.

Best Post-Oral Surgery Care Routine

Venture Creative on August 2, 2019

If you’re reading this, you probably just had a form of oral surgery, or you’re planning on having surgery sometime soon. Naturally, you most likely have many questions about oral surgery recovery, if so, you’ve come to the right place!

At the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, we’re your St. George oral surgery recovery experts. It’s absolutely crucial to take great care of your oral health following surgery and we’ve compiled some of the most proven tips and tricks to help you have the fastest recovery possible!

Oral Hygiene After Oral Surgery

The first 24 hours

It is critical to be fully aware of what you can and cannot do in terms of oral hygiene directly following surgery. Most oral surgery operations involve some form of stitching to help heal the surgical site. Due to the nature of stitches, you should try to avoid vigorous rinsing and spitting for the first 24 hours following your oral surgery.

If rinsing is necessary, use warm water and gently swish it around in your mouth. When it comes time to spit, simply let the water fall out of your mouth into the sink, don’t force it out.

Brushing your teeth can also become a little tricky following surgery. Try your best to only brush your teeth gently, and steer clear of the actual oral surgery site if at all possible.

Flossing may also be considered in the first 24 hours, but only do so gently. If you are unable to open your mouth wide enough to floss effectively, simply wait a day or so to be able to floss normally.

Mouthwash should also be avoided within the first 24 hour period following your oral surgery.

After the first 24 hours

After the first 24 hours following surgery, it is time to begin escalating the healing process. This can be done by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater or saline solution. The purpose of doing this is to help keep the surgical site clean and it will also aid with the healing process in a natural way.

Keep a close eye on your surgical site and watch for any abnormalities in the surrounding tissue. If you notice discoloration or rapid swelling, contact your doctor immediately.

We hope some of these ideas help ease your mind and any pain you may experience following oral surgery.

Call the team at the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute to schedule your next oral surgery appointment today! (435) 628-1100