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Posted on 8/25/2019 by Rodney Rastegar |
 Managing the pain and discomfort after oral surgery is one of the keys to a successful recovery. There are many things that you can do to manage the discomfort, but one of the most basic is the use of hot and cold compresses. The problem that many people have is they do not know how to use these things to get the most out of them. It takes a little knowledge to learn how to rotate between the hot and cold properly to get the most relief possible. Using Cold CompressesAfter oral surgery some of the pain and discomfort comes from the swelling that happens. Swelling is a normal thing, so finding a way to manage it is a good idea. For the first 24 hours after the surgery, cold compresses can help with the swelling.There are many ways to use cold to help with swelling. Ice cubes in a plastic bag or an ice pack will work. Many people use a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel as an ice pack. Apply the ice for 15 minutes on and then leave it off for 15 minutes. This will help during the first 24 hours, but will lose effectiveness during that time. Turning to HeatThe swelling can continue for 2 or 3 days after the oral surgery. After 24 hours of cold compresses, it is time to turn to hot compresses for help. It is best to use moist heat. Wrap the heat source in a damp towel. This will cause less skin irritation and will help expand the blood vessels. Apply the heat in 20-minute cycles on and then off.Swelling after oral surgery should subside as time goes by and should not last more than 3 days. If it does, you should get it checked out. For more information about this or any other oral health issue, contact our office to schedule an appointment. |
