Gum grafts are a procedure used to protect your teeth from receding gums. Many gum grafts in Brandon take tissue from the roof of a patient’s mouth and relocate it to the gum surrounding the root of the affected tooth where it is stitched in place. That procedure is referred to as a connective-tissue or free gingival graft. The second type of graft is called a pedicle graft. In a pedicle graft, a flap is cut into the gum near the affected tooth. That flap is then pulled to cover the exposed root, and sewn into place.
Any patient undergoing a gum graft at a dental office in Brandon will receive very clear information about what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. Your dentist will take the time to answer all of your questions about the procedure, your recovery, and aftercare.
We’re going to answer some of the most common questions here and provide some additional tips to help you manage your recovery from your gum graft procedure.
What should you avoid eating and drinking after a gum graft?
For the first two or three days after a gum graft, drink no alcohol. Alcohol can interfere with your body’s healing process. For the same period of time, avoid all sharp, crunchy, and hard foods — things like nachos, crackers, croutons, apples, celery, and the like. Hard, crunchy, and sharp foods can poke, jab, or irritate the site of your graft. For the same period of time, avoid extreme foods —anything very hot, very cold, very acidic, or very spicy.
What can you eat after gum grafts in Brandon?
Investing in a complete and effective recovery from your gum graft procedure is going to mean a few days of blandness. For two or three days following a gum graft, eat soft and unsticky foods. Eat lots of things like warm (not hot) oatmeal, cream of wheat cereal, eggs, yogurt, pasta, smoothies (not too cold), and mashed potatoes that have cooled slightly. Jello is another ideal option. If you had your tonsils out as a kid, this diet is going to seem very familiar.
What all these guidelines have in common is this: eat food that doesn’t need much chewing. If you do have to chew, make sure that you can chew only gently. Minimizing the need to chew will protect your gums from exertion and swelling while your incision and sutures are healing and your graft is taking hold.
What to expect during recovery
Your dentist in Brandon will explain postoperative restrictions relating to physical activity and give you instructions about any medication you should take. Here are a few things to keep in mind during your recovery:
- Do not floss or brush your gums in the area of the graft until it has healed fully
- Rinse your mouth to control plaque using a mouth rinse as directed by your dentist
- If you underwent a connective tissue or free gingival graft, the roof of your mouth may be sore for several days. That soreness has been described as akin to a burn from a too hot piece of pizza.
- If you’re experiencing significant pain or discomfort, your dentist in Brandon may recommend over-the-counter pain medication or even a prescription painkiller
While every person’s experience is different, you can expect to resume normal activity the day after your procedure, except that the eating precautions listed here will remain in place for two or three days. You should recover fully within one or two weeks.
Whenever you are concerned about what to expect after a dental procedure, take the time to have all your questions answered. If you have any questions about gum grafts or recovering from any other dental procedure, don’t hesitate to call a dental office in Brandon to ask.
