Getting an infection after a tooth extraction or getting dental implants will delay the recovery process, and it can also lead to further dental and health complications. You need to do everything possible to reduce the risk of post-surgical infections. Below are some of the measures that can help.
Take Antibiotics
Most forms of surgery end up bruising tissues, typically at the surgical site and the surrounding structures. The bruises increase your risk of developing an infection since they make it easy for bacteria to enter the body. Your dentist will probably prescribe some antibiotics to help keep infection at bay. Ensure you take the antibiotics religiously as prescribed.
Get Some Rest
On the days following your surgery, your body will be spending a lot of resources in healing the infection site. You should help your body heal by getting some rest so that you don't waste resources elsewhere. Strenuous physical activities, such as physical exercise or lifting heavy objects, can also induce bleeding, slow down healing processes, and encourage infections.
Avoid Tobacco Use
Smoking slows down the healing process and makes your body more susceptible to infections. The risk is even higher for oral wounds since the smoke and tobacco particles get absorbed directly into the oral tissues. The chemicals in the tobacco constrict blood vessels, slowing down blood circulation in the tissues surrounding the surgical site. The affected blood flow ends up increasing the rate of infections.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
You also need to keep your mouth clean to avoid an infection. Your dentist will advise you on when to start brushing and flossing your teeth; the waiting period will depend on the nature of the surgery. Just make sure you are gentle with the surgical site to avoid further bruising.
Use Alkaline Rinses
Whether you can brush or not, you can reduce the level of bacteria in your mouth by executing saline rinses regularly. The saline rinse will create an alkaline environment in the mouth, which makes it difficult for bacteria to multiply and thrive. The result is a reduced risk of infections.
Watch Out for Symptoms
Lastly, you should also watch out for symptoms of infections. That way, you can seek intervention from the dentist before things worsen. Typical signs of an infection include swelling, pain, fever, and tenderness in the affected tissues.
Your dentist will give you specific instructions on how to handle your post-surgical recovery. Follow the dentist's advice to the letter and seek immediate help if you develop signs of an infection.
