Nutrition & Oral Surgery: Knowing Which Foods To Eat and Avoid While You Are Recovering

May 18th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

If you’re in need of a visit to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, you’ve most likely got some form of surgical procedure coming up in the near future. As with any surgery, there will be a recovery period and during this time you’ll most likely be asked to stay away from certain foods to avoid potential complications that can slow down the healing process. Let’s take a look at a few foods that you can eat and a few that you’ll need to avoid when recovering from oral surgery.

As you can likely imagine, having surgery that involves your teeth will limit your ability to chew. Soft and liquid foods are typically approved, and of these few are as nutritious as soup. If you want to try putting your chef’s hat on,consider downloading a few recipes for scratch-made soups and giving those a shot. For most soups all you’ll need are the ingredients and a blender; at most you’ll find an hour or so of prep work getting everything together before blending the ingredients and cooking up a delicious new soup.

While you’ve probably had mashed potatoes at least a few times in your life – okay, who are we kidding… a few hundred! – you may not have considered mashing up other vegetables such as carrots, peas or other fruits or vegetables. The internet is loaded with recipes for mashed turnips, mashed cauliflower and other mashed foods that can be grilled first for a bit of extra flavor. If you’re up for it you can even mash up pasta and eat it with a bit of sauce. Try ‘fideo’ noodles as opposed to spaghetti noodles as they’re much thinner.

Of course, you’ll need to avoid quite a few foods and some are likely very obvious to you. Popcorn and other foods that have kernels and shells are out, as pieces tend to get stuck between your teeth and in your gums. Nuts, seeds, granola and other crunchy items that break down into small, brittle pieces are also a no-go as you can’t have these getting stuck inside of your teeth. Finally you’ll want to avoid foods that are too chewy or sticky as they tend to clog up the inside of your mouth and you need to keep your teeth as clean and debris-free as possible during your recovery.

Whether you’ve had a relatively simple procedure like a wisdom teeth removal or a complex one such as having dental implants installed, the recovery process can seem like it takes forever. Once you’re through the first few days, time will start to fly by and before you know it you’ll be back to enjoying the same foods as you normally would. Be sure to stick to the instructions that we provide you and if you have any questions, contact the Lorton Oral Surgery offices at your convenience to speak with one of our professional staff or visit:  www.LortonOralSurgery.com

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The 5 minute guide to Pericoronitis, and how we can help with this excrutiating condition

May 16th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Do you have pain emanating from around one of your wisdom teeth? Are you experiencing inflammation or bleeding from the area? You may be experiencing pericoronitis, a common condition that affects millions of Americans each year. Below we’ll share some insight into pericoronitis including what it is, why it may affect you (especially if you have your wisdom teeth) and what to do if it does.

Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the tissues and gums around a tooth that has partially erupted through this area. With most individuals who have erupted wisdom teeth it is easy to see the gingival or ‘gums’ tissue wrapping around the tooth; in many people, this tissue does not adhere closely to the tooth but instead there is a small space or pocket where food particles and debris can collect. Once food or other material gets inside of this area, bacteria can start to accumulate and this leads to inflammation, swelling and pain ranging from minor to severe.

Below are a few of the common signs and symptoms of pericoronitis; if you experience this condition you may have some or all of these:

Pain – the pain associated with pericoronitis often begins as very minor but if left untreated can become incredibly severe, and may radiate away from the tooth area.

Redness and swelling – as pericoronitis is associated with a bacterial infection, it is generally accompanied by redness and local swelling, which can be very irritating as swollen gum tissue can make chewing difficult.

Bad breath and a bad taste – if the bacterial infection is serious, you may discover a foul taste or odor emanating from the infected area. This is due to the infection itself and is generally caused by bacteria releasing sulfur-based compounds.

Formation of pus – pus generally accompanies bacterial infections, although generally with ‘acute’ or short-lived pericoronitis that is treated promptly pus is kept to a minimum.

Most of the time, treatment of pericoronitis is very simple and involves removing whatever is causing the inflammation and infection in the area. For some individuals this means being more diligent about oral hygiene and cleaning the hard-to-reach areas at the back of the mouth; for others, they may need a quick surgical procedure to resect or remove some of the infected tissue. If the pericoronitis is chronically recurring or won’t seem to go away, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon may recommend a wisdom tooth extraction in order to deal with the problem once and for all.

If you’re dealing with swelling, redness, bleeding and/or pain around your wisdom teeth, you may have pericoronitis. The team here at Lorton Oral Surgery can offer you guidance and quickly explain how to get this resolved. Please contact our offices at your convenience and we will be happy to either book you in for an urgent appointment or recommend the next best course of action. Thanks for visiting!

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What can happen if you don't get your impacted wisdom teeth removed?

April 17th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Having wisdom teeth removed isn’t something most people look forward to. As a matter of fact, this procedure is one that many people dread, especially those who are already afraid of the dentist’s chair. Though wisdom teeth extractions can be uncomfortable, the truth of the matter is that avoiding this procedure has much greater consequences than most people realize. The best thing you can do is overcome your fear and have your wisdom teeth extracted before they become impacted and put you at risk of developing these common problems.

An impacted wisdom tooth has the tendency to affect its neighboring teeth, since it is not able to grow in normally and erupt through the gums like the surrounding teeth. When an impacted wisdom tooth pushes against the second molar, it can cause damage and infection. It can also cause root resorption, which is the breakdown of the root structure in the adjacent teeth. This can sometimes cause the loss of the tooth. An impacted wisdom tooth that grows in sideways also puts the alignment of all of your teeth at risk, and can cause crowding and subsequent issues which would require orthodontic attention.

Wisdom teeth grow within a sac in the jawbone, and when a wisdom tooth becomes impacted, problems can occur that cause the sac to be filled with fluid. This then forms a cyst surrounding the wisdom tooth, which can cause damage to the jawbone and nerves in the mouth, sometimes requiring removal of not only the wisdom tooth, but also tissue and bone.

When an impacted wisdom tooth is partially erupted on the surface of your gums, you are at risk of developing oral health problems. A common problem when it comes to partially erupted wisdom teeth is Pericoronitis, which is sometimes also known as operculitis. This refers to the inflammation of the gums and dental follicle surrounding the wisdom teeth, which can cause severe pain, swelling, and sometimes fever. Since the areas surrounding the wisdom teeth are difficult to clean with your toothbrush, Pericoronitis is caused by the accumulation of bacteria, and the problem can be recurring and sometimes chronic.

For impacted wisdom teeth that are partially erupted, tooth decay is another common issue because wisdom teeth are so difficult to clean. Without daily cleaning, bacteria can accumulate and can easily lead to tooth decay, causing chronic bad breath. Cavities in impacted wisdom teeth are generally the cause for extractions, since partially erupted teeth will remain a constant source for bacteria buildup, which can lead to more serious infections.

With all of the science and medical knowledge we have today, we are all at an advantage. Knowing what kinds of problems can occur from neglect to our oral health, we are all able to prevent them before they happen. Hopefully being made aware of the serious issues that can occur from not removing your impacted wisdom teeth will help you to make the right decision, face the momentary fear, and have them removed before they cause more serious problems. For more information, you can always seek the assistance of one of the many specialists on impacted wisdom teeth Burke has to offer.

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Having Wisdom teeth removed? 5 tips to be ready for the big day.

May 6th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Whether your wisdom teeth are already starting to cause you discomfort or you’re being diligent in preparing for your extraction, proper planning ahead of time can prevent stress and discomfort after your procedure has taken place. Below are five excellent tips to help you prepare for having your wisdom teeth removed.

Whether it’s a quick procedure or a major surgery, the same holds true: it’s best to eliminate any source of stress that can add to your discomfort while you’re in the recovery phase. Arrange for time away from the workplace, for additional child care or just to have a good friend around while you’re recovering. You will feel much better if you’re dealing with as little stress as possible.

While some wisdom teeth removals can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications such asacetaminophen or ibuprofen, there is a chance that you will require a stronger medication to manage the pain that will arrive once the anesthetics wear off. Your oral surgeon will provide you with a prescription for a drug therapy suitable for the pain you will be in; be sure to have a plan to get this prescription filled before you arrive home from the procedure.

Prior to your wisdom tooth extraction you may be required to follow a specific diet to ensure that your procedure goes according to plan. You may be advised to avoid certain foods, beverages or solid foods altogether in the hours prior to having your wisdom teeth removed. If you have any doubts about whether or not you should be eating a certain food, be sure to check in with your oral surgery team.

It should go without saying that your oral surgeon and the rest of the team are here to answer your questions and ensure you’re adequately prepared for what’s next. Although having your wisdom teeth removed is a relatively minor procedure and not a major surgery, it’s still natural to have questions. Feel free to ask anything you’d like to know more about; knowing more about what’s happening may help to place you at ease.

After the procedure, plan to relax for the rest of the day. You can resume normal activity the day after your extraction, but do your best to avoid any sports or other strenuous activities that may cause unnecessary bleeding. You’re going to want to avoid smoking and alcohol, and be sure to follow the directions provided about which foods are okay to eat and which are not. With a bit of rest, some ice and your prescription medications, you’ll be feeling good as new in no time.

Don’t forget: this is a procedure that many thousands of individuals just like you have each and every day. Dr. Patel and the team at Lorton Oral Surgery are here to answer any other questions about your wisdom teeth that you might have. Contact us anytime and we’ll be happy to help!

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