When you have oral surgery, there is going to be swelling afterwards. It is virtually guaranteed. Some procedures are going to swell more than others, and how complex the surgery is will also be a factor in your swelling. If you can take a bit of prep time before having the procedure, you can make the swelling easier to manage. The last thing you want to be doing is trying to get things organized after the procedure when you are sore and just want to lie down.

Getting the House Ready for After Oral Surgery

Following any type of oral surgery, you are going to want to have a resting spot set up. This should be an area that is soft and comfortable, and has lots of pillows around. Laying flat after oral surgery is never a good idea. It can increase not only your swelling, but also your pain and sometimes your bleeding. You want to sleep at about a 45-degree angle, if not a little higher. This keeps your mouth above your heart, and can help control your swelling. You also want to make sure that you have the right medications on hand. Your oral surgeon will likely tell you that taking an anti-inflammatory is the best method. This means something like ibuprofen, so long as that is safe for you. Plus, you may also want narcotics for after surgery. If that's the case, whoever drives you home should run you through a drive-thru pharmacy so you have them ready.

On top of having a resting spot, make sure you also have soft snacks. You will be hungry before you feel better, so you want to have soft options to eat. For more tips on keeping your swelling down, ask your oral surgeon for their ideas. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (608) 960-7650.