Preventing and Minimizing Nausea After Implant Surgery
Posted on: 28 January 2019
Dental implant surgeries can be uncomfortable in a variety of different ways. And, while pain is likely to be the most bothersome, you need to be concerned about things like nausea as well. Nausea can lead to vomiting, and the stomach acid can burn the surgical site. There are a few easy ways to keep nausea at bay, so keep reading to learn what they are.
Minimize Bleeding
Bleeding is normal after a serious oral surgery like the one completed to secure a dental implant root. However, if you swallow the blood instead of soaking it up, then you will develop nausea. Your body senses when blood coagulates in the stomach and will act to protect itself from an illness or injury by forcing you to vomit.
So, one of the easiest ways to prevent nausea is to keep bleeding at bay by using gauze on the surgical area. You want to fold up several pieces of gauze and bite down on them over the surgical site. Keep an eye on the gauze and replace it as soon as you see the pads becoming congested with blood. You can add additional pads to the site as well, and this will help with clotting.
When bleeding slows down, try not to disrupt the area too much. Stick to water and drink slowly at first. Take small sips and inspect the implant site if you taste blood in the mouth. You also want to be careful when cleaning the area. While you should stick to your oral care routine, you do not want to place pressure directly against the site with your toothbrush.
Go Easy on the Medication
Your dental professional will likely prescribe some strong medication to control your pain. Opiate-based medications are typical in this scenario. Vicodin or hydrocodone are the most common medicines, but they can cause some nausea.
If you have never taken a strong pain reliever, then you may want to start off with some ibuprofen first. If this does not help, then you can try the stronger medication. However, ask your dental professional if you can split your pain pills in half to minimize your dosage. This way, you can keep an eye on adverse side effects, like nausea, and you can adjust your dosage as needed.
If you do feel nauseous with the pain medication, even with a smaller dose, try eating a small snack when you take the medicine. This will help to keep stomach irritation at bay.
Talk to your dentist or someone else at your family dentistry if you have more questions.
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