Brushing teeth after surgery

[SamBracingForIt]

I'm so anxious every time I have to brush my teeth... I go really slowly, and I try to be super mindful of what I'm doing, but sometimes, you're just in a rush, and brushing your teeth is like, such an automatic thing that you don't pay attention... I'm just worried that my toothbrush is going to get stuck or that I'm going to have some crocodile-like reaction and clamp down on my toothbrush. I am 3 months post op and have been cleared to eat whatever I want, but this still sends shivers up and down my spine. This morning, as I was brushing my teeth, I kind of closed my mouth a bit too soon so my teeth caught my toothbrush a little. Of course, my mind catastrophizes everything, and now I'm like, did I bite down too hard on the toothbrush?! Nothing hurts. I'm trying to remind myself that my bones are healed, but I'm such a worry wart

[Konbawa076]

It's hard to answer you because I read your post when I was 3 days post op. I'm today 9 days post op. I can brush my teeth softly with a baby brush and I used waterpick from day post op 1 which really saved my life.

I wasn't wired shut, but the day next to my surgery my surgeon gave me some very tough love and forced my mouth and my nostril to be blood free even though I was trying to stop him.

then he forced me to drink from a glass water (because I couldn't swallow all night even water and evntually trew up all the blood that was on my stomac, I suppose since my surgery took at least 3 hours a lot was in there (Lefort I+ BSSO+Genioplasty+Cheek bones graft).

I could open just enough my mouth to clean behind my teeth 3/4 days after surgery.

I cut my strong painkiller (with codeine) yesterday and cut down other painkiller as well, so I feel a lot more my jaw and Brushing is a little painfull especially since I can see know the stiches (I'm very sensitive to blood and sewing ect).

I think you just have to get over your trauma, you are 3 month post op, I'm so happy for you. I envy you, I wish I can fastforward time. Because I can not do any of my work (I 'm a student) and I'm falling a lot behind. Cooking, cleaning and stuff from every day life takes almost all of my energy. You should be grateful for where you are at. And you know just give it time to sink in that evrything is behind you now. Maybe it'll take a year, but you'll see time fly try to enjou life as much as you can and everything will fall into places.