How to Handle Dental Surgery Pain

Figure 1 by Superkitina on Unsplash

The WHO has estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Due to the fact that so many people suffer from mouth discomfort, we aim to offer you useful resources as you seek dentistry assistance. We’ve previously covered the topics of jaw pain, as well as how to deal with some common dental emergencies. One of the most excruciating mouth pains can come from dental surgery. Perhaps you’ve had your gums, jaw or mouth operated on, or had teeth extracted. How you recover is crucial in order to heal well and avoid resulting complications, such as developing an infection.

Your dental surgeon is likely to give you some postoperative instructions, so you’ll benefit from listening carefully and following these obediently. We give you a detailed list of tips to help when the pain becomes a bit too hard to handle.

1. Ice It

Icing can help decrease both pain and swelling. Regular application of an ice pack to the side of your face on which the dental surgery took place is advised. Repeat this for 15 minute intervals—place the ice pack on the affected side for 15 minutes and then have a break for the same amount of time.

2. Medicate It

Dental surgeons can suggest pain medication to ease your initial discomfort. This could either be an acetaminophen such as Tylenol or ibuprofen, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Sometimes, combining the two proves to be effective pain relief. It’s best to treat your pain throughout the day, at regular intervals, not only when you feel it most.

3. Clean It

Immediately after dental surgery it’s best to brush your teeth very gently with warm water instead of toothpaste. By rinsing out your mouth with a saline or saltwater solution, you’ll keep your affected area clean.

It’s simple enough to make your own saline solution by mixing one tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Be careful not to swallow this solution. Rinse with this mixture and let it fall out of your mouth when you’re finished. By repeating this as needed during the day you’ll assist your recovery process.

After a few days you may be able to softly brush your teeth with sensitive toothpaste and floss them, but take extra care not to increase any bleeding through rough brushing.

4. Nourish It

It’s important to drink sufficient liquids and to start by eating warm, softer foods. This will ensure you’re hydrated and don’t further aggravate your affected area. Stay away from any chewy or crunchy food that could become stuck in your sensitive, recovering area.

Last Words

If you have persisting pain, bleeding, numbness, swelling or other symptoms in your mouth for more than 24 to 48 hours after dental surgery, it’s best to request professional healthcare intervention. Certain procedures could require extreme measures for which specialists such as the Seattle Pain Relief team will have the answer.

See? There’s a solution no matter what type of pain your next dental appointment may result in. No need to fear that next visit to the dentist anymore!