While oral surgery can be performed at any time of the year, many patients choose to undergo such procedures during the holiday season, which is a time when they would already normally be taking a break from school or work. If you want to enjoy the holidays while also allowing your mouth to heal properly, it’s important to take the right steps. Below is a brief guide for navigating the oral surgery recovery process during the holiday season.
Spend at Least a Couple of Days Resting
If sedation was used during your oral surgery, it can take a while for the effects to completely wear off. Additionally, trying to engage in strenuous exercise too soon after the procedure could lead to increased swelling and discomfort. As such, it’s in your best interest to plan to spend a couple of days resting at home once your oral surgery is complete. You can return to your normal routine after that, but you should still limit your physical activity for at least a week.
Maintain a Soft Food Diet
In general, you should plan on eating soft foods while recovering from oral surgery. Be sure to stock up on yogurt, applesauce, and other foods that require little to no chewing. If you will still be in the middle of the healing process during a big holiday meal, make sure that it will include plenty of soft options like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and baked yams.
Time Your Holiday Trips Carefully
Heading out of town during the holidays? You should make sure that your mouth is given enough time to rest before you leave. If you’re traveling by car, it’s generally okay to depart just a couple of days after oral surgery. However, flying is another story, as atmospheric pressure could lead to discomfort if your mouth is still healing. Your oral surgeon will let you know how long you need to wait to get on an airplane based on the type of procedure performed.
Find Things to Do With Your Family While You’re Resting
Since you’ll need to refrain from being too active in the days following your oral surgery, it’s worth taking the time to figure out some things you can do with your loved ones during the holidays while still ensuring that your body gets the rest it needs. For example, you might bring a deck of cards or a few board games to the big family holiday gathering.
Be sure to follow the steps outlined above carefully, and don’t forget to follow any additional instructions that your oral surgeon gives you. By doing so, you can avoid problems during the recovery process and still get the most out of the holiday season.
About the Author
Dr. J. Darrell Steele went to Baylor College of Dentistry, and his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency focused on a variety of procedures such as jaw surgery, cosmetic facial surgery, and dental implants. At Steele Oral Surgery in Coppell, he offers many oral surgery services such as bone grafting. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Steele, visit his website or call (972) 315-3355.
