When you’ve been through dental surgery, it’s important to do everything possible to ensure a speedy recovery. If you’ve had dental treatment, here are some tips to help you:

Rest

Any kind of treatment can put your body through its paces, and it’s best to take a day or so to rest and relax. It can take a while for the effects of anaesthetic or a sedative to wear off, so ask somebody to accompany you home, and stay with you until you feel a bit more awake and alert. Rest, and don’t try and do anything strenuous like exercise for a few days.

Take Painkillers

When you have surgery, it’s normal to experience mild pain afterwards. Your dentist may advise you to take over the counter painkillers or apply ice to the affected tooth to ease discomfort. Make sure you follow the dosage instructions, and ask your dentist or pharmacist for advice if you’re not sure what to take.

Avoid Hot Drinks

For the first couple of hours after surgery it’s best to avoid hot drinks. When your mouth is numb, you can burn yourself without realising.

Eat Soft Foods

If you’re hungry after surgery, try and make sure you stick to soft foods, which require very little effort to eat. If you try and tackle a piece of steak or a hard toffee, this could be very painful. It’s best to stick to foods like yoghurts and soups for the first couple of days. As you become more comfortable, you can start introducing a wider range of foods.

When you have surgery, your dentist will give you some aftercare tips. If you have any questions, or you’re worried about pain, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and get in touch.