Prepare for dental surgery with these easy to follow steps

Dental surgery is something that most of us are afraid of. I personally experienced the fear, the shaky muscles, and heart-pounding chest activity. But after my first dental surgery at Estetico Manila in Makati, the next surgeries came very easy to handle because of these tips from my dentist.

Before the surgery

• Fill the fridge with soft food that is easy to chew
• Do not eat or drink before surgery for the amount of time recommended by your dentist
• Avoid wearing makeup and lipstick
• Wear comfortable or loose-fit clothes
• Don’t forget to brush and floss before you arrive
• Ask someone to pick you up after surgery or be with you for the whole duration

After the surgery

• Stick to soft foods like soups and yogurts for first two days
• Avoid crunchy and hard foods like pretzel sticks
• Eat foods that are in room temperature 
• Avoid food and drinks that are hot, while still under the influence of anesthetic
• Don’t drink out of a straw or consume alcohol for the first 24 hours as it could delay the healing process
• Spend significant time in bed
• Have extra pillows so that you can rest in a comfortable position
• Avoid smoking because the sucking motion could cause bleeding 
• Put an ice pack on the area for 15 minutes at a time and then rest for 15 minutes before putting it back
• Start rinsing your mouth four times a day after 24 hours 
• If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics, follow the instruction and make sure not to overdose
• Don’t poke at the surgery site, always keep your fingers and tongue from this
• Don’t be tempted to rinse the area for 24 hours after the surgery
• Avoid vigorous rinsing for 24 hours after the surgery
• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after the surgery
• Take your usual painkillers on a regular basis over the next few days and do not exceed the recommended dosage. 
• Brush the rest of your teeth as normal

Applying these tips will surely quicken the healing process and help you to maintain comfort after the surgery. Have other tips? Kindly share it with us through commenting below! We really like to hear from you.