If your loved one has just had oral surgery or has some planned for the near future, you’ll need to know how to best care for her after the surgery. Most oral surgeries are provided as an outpatient service, meaning your loved one will come home soon after the surgery is complete and the doctor or dentist gives the all-clear for her to head home to recover.
And while it might seem like not a big deal if your loved one doesn’t have an overnight hospital stay after surgery, coming home still requires a bit of preparedness on your part. Here are some tips to help your loved one recover quickly, and how post-hospital care can support your efforts:
- Keep the Mouth Clean. Once about 24 hours have passed, make sure your loved one is rinsing with salt water at least four times a day. He should also rinse after any food he eats during the day. Use a cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of salt in it. Having a professional come to the home to provide post-hospital care can be a great way to make sure this important task is getting done regularly.
- Let Him Rest. Even if your loved one feels he should take the dog for a walk or go get the mail, insist he rests for at least the first 24 hours. A post hospital care provider can come to the home to help with any chores or tasks that your loved one needs help with so he can rest.
- Make Wise Food Choices. As the mouth recovers, your loved one should stick to soft foods that won’t poke or tear at any incisions he may have in his mouth area. Soups, yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, and mashed potatoes are all safe foods that can usually be eaten right away. You’ll also want to encourage him to eat or drink foods that are full of Vitamin C and A. These important vitamins help in the healing process. Great sources of these vitamins include sweet potatoes, eggs, cooked carrots, and fruit such as oranges, strawberries, and kiwi. If needed macerate them so they are soft enough to enjoy.
- Make Sure All Medications Are Taken. If the doctor has prescribed some antibiotics as part of your loved one’s post hospital care, help him stay on top of taking them and make sure he finishes them all off no matter how good he is feeling after the surgery.
- Keep him away from Cigarettes and Alcohol. While it may be difficult, both can slow the healing process and smoking can cause the individual to harm the incision as he inhales. If needed, ask the doctor if he can wear a nicotine patch to help the cravings as his mouth heals.
Recovery from oral surgery is usually quick and uncomplicated but if your loved one runs a fever for more than 24 hours, cannot stop bleeding, or has uncontrolled pain, bring him back in for immediate care from his provider.
If you or an aging loved one are considering post-hospital care in Brady, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call 254-559-2030
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in McCulloch County, San Saba County, Mills County, Hamilton County, Runnels County, Coleman County, Brown County, Comanche County, Eastland County, Callahan County, Palo Pinto County, Stephens County, Shackleford County, Jack County, Young County, Throckmorton County, Baylor County, Archer County, Clay County, Wilbarger County, and Wichita County in Texas.
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