How Long After Dental Surgery Can I Swim?

Holding off on your favorite activities can be infuriating if it is without your control. If you enjoy being in the water, various factors like the weather are limiting enough to your fun times. The last thing you want is to add a new limiting factor like oral surgery. However, downtime after dental surgery is necessary for optimal healing and recovery.

What Is an Oral Surgery?

It is any dental protocol that entails invasive measures for treatment. The surgeries are limited to the oral cavity, typically cutting and suturing soft tissues. When talking about oral surgery, a dentist near you will be referring to any surgical dental work in your gums, jawbone, teeth, or surrounding facial features.

Do You Need Oral Surgery?

No one is particularly fond of oral surgeries. If there is a different alternative for treatment, even dentists at Novacare Dental will recommend them instead of a surgical procedure. However, surgical intervention is crucial for intervening in reconstructive procedures and traumatic injuries. Some of the following types of surgeries indicate your need for oral surgery:

1. Impacted teeth – are usually stuck under the gums due to improper eruption.
2. Endodontic procedure – typically entails a root canal or apicoectomy to treat a diseased tooth.
3. Implantation surgery – places a dental implant in your mouth to replace the missing tooth.
4. Bone grafting – restores damaged bone tissue before placing dental implants in your jawbone.
5. Gum grafting – repairs and rebuilds damaged gum tissue, typically as a treatment for periodontitis.
6. Jaw-joint issues – treats a dysfunctional temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects your jaw to the skull.
7. Sleep and breathing issues – particularly for treating sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that causes difficulty breathing well at night.
8. Cleft lips and palate – is typically a birth defect affecting the roof of the mouth and the nasal cavity.

What Happens After Oral Surgery?

When preparing for any dental treatment, you must consider your well-being during and after the procedure. The same should apply to your oral surgery. Some of the things you must anticipate after dental surgery are:

1. Soreness and discomfort – your dentist should prescribe over-the-counter medication to nurse your pain during recovery.
2. Bleeding – the surgical site will bleed for a while, typically during the first 24 hours post-surgery. It should get better with time. Therefore, do not be alarmed by streaks of blood in your saliva a day or two after your surgery.
3. Swelling – the operated side of your mouth will be puffed up for a while before it gets better. The swelling may impact even your face. Therefore, be diligent in taking your medication and cold compressing to manage the inflammation.
4. Fatigue – it is normal to feel tired after a surgical procedure. Fatigue is your body’s way of communicating that you need to rest so it can focus on healing and recovery. Ensure you take time off work and intense physical exertions so your body can have ample time to recover.

How Long is Recovery Post Oral surgeries?

Patients experience different recovery periods. It has a lot to do with the type of surgery you undergo, your diligence to rest and be healthy during recovery, and your body’s immune system. Depending on the type of surgery you undergo, healing can take between 14 days to 4 months. some tips to speed up your recovery process are:

1. Eat healthily – keep your meals soft, regulated temperatures, and healthy. Your body will need the energy and nutrients to heal quickly.
2. Rest – actively set time to rest your body while keeping your head slightly elevated above the rest of your body.
3. Avoid intense physical activity – they typically increase the heart rate and blood flow, which can tamper with the healing process.

When Will You Be Ready to Swim Again?

The only problem with swimming after dental surgery is intense physical activity. Therefore, your dentist will prohibit you from swimming for at least two weeks after any oral surgery. The vital consideration is to avoid swimming if you are still in pain or your jaw feels stiff. For some oral surgeries, dentists recommend waiting until the stitches dissolve or are removed before you can swim again. If you are unsure about the best time to go back into the pool or sea, talk to your dentist about it,