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Do’s & Don’ts of Oral Surgery Recovery

Cartoon about oral surgery recovery showing a resting man with bubbles filled with suggestions.
Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Many treatments like wisdom tooth removal and dental implants require surgery. The recovery time varies depending on how complex the procedure was, but there are common do’s and don’ts you should keep in mind.

Do’s of Oral Surgery Recovery

When you’ve undergone oral surgery, you should take it easy the rest of the day. Depending on the surgery, you might need to take a few days off to recover. If you lie down, prop your head up with a pillow. To reduce swelling, apply ice to your face for 15 minutes at a time and then take a 15-minute break.


Wait to eat until you’re no longer bleeding, and then stick with soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and jello for a day or so. Keeping your mouth clean is important to prevent infection, so follow our instructions on what to do. Always take your pain medication as instructed.

Don’ts of Oral Surgery Recovery

Depending on your surgery, you might feel fairly normal afterward. However, you shouldn’t try to go about your normal routines. Even if you want to work out, commit to resting for the first 24 hours. For the next few days, avoid intense exercise or heavy lifting. Resting is very important to the healing process.


The right nutrition is important, too. We recommend avoiding hot or very spicy food until you’re a bit back to normal. You can eat solid food after the first 24 hours or so, but don’t chew hard or crunchy foods near the treatment area. For the first day, you should also not smoke or drink alcohol.

Oral Surgery at Southbridge Dental Care

Dr. Park and the Southbridge team perform a variety of surgeries. Some are so minor you may not need sedation, but no matter what procedure we’re performing, we make sure you don’t feel pain. We understand that surgeries can trigger a lot of anxiety, so we’re here to make the process as comfortable and stress-free as possible. If you have questions or need to book an appointment, please contact us!

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