Hi MS Cherokee,
I honestly think that one of the most miserable things to have is a cold. It just makes you feel crummy and all that mucus and coughing just seems endless!!
It's ok to sneeze, cough and blow your nose. If it was an upper molar, then just blow your nose gently for a few days and blow out of both nostrils at the same time so as to not put too much pressure on the side that had the extraction. It's better to get rid of the congestion than to let it go down into your chest.
As for the cough syrup, any medication that reduces mucus will dry up the saliva flow and the oral tissue. THIS is not a good thing because you need to have a healthy saliva flow to keep that extraction site moist so the clot doesn't dry up. Also, do not suck on cough drops for the same reason as well as the sucking action can disturb the formation of the clot.
I'm glad you didn't smoke the first day......... good for you!! But remember, smoking in any way..... "even carefully"...... is going to disrupt the healing of that surgical site and it could cause a dry socket and/or it could take longer for the site to heal properly.
The no alcohol rule is until the area has healed completely. Alcohol dries up the oral tissue and as I mentioned before, the area needs to remain moist.
Restriction of hot foods is for about 7-10 days after the extraction. One reason is because hot temperatures can cause bleeding, secondly keep in mind this is a surgical wound, you wouldn't want to put anything hot on it because it could burn the surgerized tissue.
I know your appetite is not good and that's understandable. But try to eat as nutritionally as possible when you do eat to help your immune system fight this cold and heal the extraction site.
Most postoperative complications following oral surgery can be avoided if the patient makes every effort to take really good care of themself. I know it sounds silly, but it's really true!
Remember........ keep rinsing with the warm salt water several times a day for at least 2 weeks or so!
Keep us posted........ ~'.'~
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSCherokee
Thanks everyone for their replies! 
It's going on the third day since my extraction and the worst problem I'm having is trying not to cough or sneeze.
Bryanna, I'm doing *almost* everything right. The first day I felt so bad (more from the cold than the extraction) that I didn't smoke at all, nor did I use the patches. The second day I did smoke two cigarettes, very carefully. At this point I'm actually more concerned about the coughing and sneezing. I've been taking cough syrup and it's helping somewhat. It never fails, anytime I have a dentist appointment scheduled someone always comes to work sick and gets me sick.
I've seemed to have lost my appetite as well, which isn't all bad.  I have to force myself to eat but once I start eating I realize how hungry I am.
I've had absolutely no problem with the no alcohol or no carbonated beverages rule, I'm just wondering for how long. The sheet the dentist office gave me didn't give a length of time. It also didn't say how long to avoid hot foods and drinks so I've been drinking my coffee lukewarm! Other than that, things are going good! |