After undergoing dental surgery, you get a list of instructions for the aftercare. One of those instructions can include sleeping in a propped-up position. It is not always easy for a person to make this change in their sleeping habits. If you find it difficult to do, take some time to learn why it can help and most importantly, how long you need to do it for.
The Best Sleeping Position
When it comes to sleeping position following dental surgery, it is a good idea to make sure to elevate the head. A good angle to achieve while sleeping is 45 degrees. You should sleep in the position for the first 36 to 48 hours following the surgery.The Reason to Prop Yourself Up
It is not always comfortable to sleep with your head elevated to a 45-degree angle. Some may argue that because of the angle of their head, they cannot get a restful night's sleep and are actually hurting the healing process. While it is important to get a good night's rest, there are reasons that propping your head and body up will aid in the recovery process.When you raise your head to the 45-degree angle you help avoid some of the things that happen if you lie flat. When you lie flat, the blood vessels constrict more and the volume of the blood around the wound increases. This can lead to extra swelling that causes the wound to throb.
It can also create more pressure around the wound and can increase bleeding from the wound. These things can inhibit the healing process, but are eliminated by propping yourself up. Because there is less throbbing, swelling and pressure, there is also less pain which allows you to get a better night's rest.
All these things combine to impact the body's ability to heal from dental surgery. For tips on sleeping following oral surgery, call our office today.
