Healing and recovery after surgery should be of prime importance in the mind of the patient. The postoperative guidelines and instructions, as prescribed by the dental surgeon, should be followed to the best possible level to ensure speedy healing and prevent any chance of infection or trauma to the surgical site. Along side these instructions, the patient should also get the much needed rest without which it is impossible to achieve optimal recovery. A proper schedule and pattern of oral hygiene is also to be maintained by the patient to prevent any bacterial infection from growing in the surgical area.
Bleeding Post a Tooth Extraction
It is very normal to experience some bleeding after going through a tooth extraction. Slight bleeding may take place for 24 hours after the procedure has taken place. The patient should use the gauze that was provided and bite down hard for a period of an hour. The gauze must be removed in the gentlest manner possible. A sip of water might help loosen the gauze if it feels stuck to the operated tissue. Doing this will keep away the bleeding from taking place again. In case the bleeding is profuse or prolonged for more than the normal duration of time, the patient must consult a dentist at the soonest possible opportunity. A common cure for such a problem is a moist black tea bag. Dentists often ask patients who are suffering from continued bleeding to bite down on a black tea bag as the tannic acid produced by it curbs the heavy bleeding and aids in hastening the process of clotting.
Taking Care of Swelling and Pain
Swelling is usually the inevitable aftermath of an oral procedure. Placing the head on an elevated pillow helps bring it down to some extent. The patient can also opt for an ice pack to be kept near the surgical site. Stiffening as well as slight bruising, especially if the surgery involved the lower wisdom tooth, is also to be expected. Swelling usually lasts for about 7 to 10 days. If the swelling does not subside in a week or so, the dentist must be consulted. The degree of postoperative pain depends on the extent of the corrective procedure. The dentist is bound to prescribe suitable medications to the patient for pain management. The patient is advised to follow the instructions regarding the consumption of these medicines, as advised by the doctor. Prior to taking any over-the-counter medicine, the dentist should always be consulted. In case an antibiotic has been prescribed, the patient should always make sure that he or she completes the full course of the medication to avoid chances of possible infection.
