Brushing Your Teeth After Jaw Surgery

After speaking with many patients, I have been asked to write a blog on how to brush your teeth after orthognathic/ maxillofacial surgery.

On leaving hospital you may be given a mouthwash to rinse with. This mouthwash is often used after any type of surgery or dentistry work to decrease bacteria and to reduce the risk of infection. You will be encouraged to start brushing your teeth as soon as possible. In the beginning, I found using a soft baby brush was beneficial and Corsodyl mouthwash to ease the ulcers and to stop bacteria. However, it took me several weeks to get to this stage.

With the combination of scarring, swelling, bleeding and bands/wires it was nearly impossible to brush my teeth. I was in a huge amount of pain and found opening my mouth wide enough for a syringe was very challenging. To ensure that my internal wounds did not get infected and my mouth was hygienic, I rinsed with medicated mouthwash and salt water every 2 hours.

When I was discharged from the hospital I was given a bottle of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash. This is a medicated mouthwash which can be used alongside regular brushing to help prevent everyday issues such as gum disease. Chlorhexidine belongs to a group of drugs known as antimicrobials. This chemical is found in very low doses in many mouthwashes and some contact lens solutions. Chlorhexidine works by decreasing the amount of bacteria in your mouth and can aid in reducing swelling and redness of the gums. If you are not issued with a medicated mouthwash when you leave the hospital you can often pick up a bottle at your local supermarket or pharmacy. Corsodyl is a branded name for this type of mouthwash. However, the non-branded Chlorhexidine Gluconate rinse is significantly less expensive than the branded mouthwash.

Read the full article here: http://steffies-orthognathic-surgery.blogspot.com/2014/06/brushing-your-teeth-after-jaw-surgery.html