Preparing Your Home for Oral Surgery Recovery

If you are scheduled for oral surgery, be sure to prepare your home ahead of time for your recovery. Since you will be spending a few days at home with restricted oral movements and limited abilities, it is best to set aside a day ahead of time to prepare for your recovery.

Last Minute Cleaning
A day or two before your surgery, get caught up on some housework. Be sure you have enough clean dishes and laundry for two to three days after your surgery. Since you will be taking pain medication after your surgery, you may feel extra sleepy, or not well enough to do your normal daily house chores.

Go Grocery Shopping
The first few days after oral surgery you will be limited to liquids and very soft foods. Your range of oral movement will also be restricted, as not to disturb the blood clot that must form for your mouth to heal. Never use a straw during your oral surgery recovery. The sucking motion can disrupt your stitches.

Be sure to stock up on creamy soups and broths, milk shakes, gelatin and other foods that won't require chewing and can easily slide back to your throat. During your oral surgery recovery, you will want to limit chewing so your stitches can heal. Avoid getting food into the surgery site since you will be very limited on brushing your teeth and won't be allowed to spit.

Nutrient supplemented drinks such as Ensure, Boost and Slim Fast are also good options during your recovery from oral surgery. The liquid diet is easy to drink, and full of added vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy.

Prepare your Bed
The day of your surgery, you will experience some bleeding and possibly the inability to fully close your mouth due to lip numbness. While you sleep, you may notice some drooling with blood. Prepare your bed with old pillowcases, or towels over your pillow, so you don't ruin your good linens. This is also a good time to wear old pajamas, since you might drool on your shirt.

Don't get Bored
Stock up on reading material, movies, or long-overdue paperwork that needs to be finished. Since your ability to talk clearly will be hindered for one to two days after your oral surgery, you will need to find a few quiet activities to keep you occupied.