Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 hey Alix! Well, I'm new to it all too.. but you can't take your bands out?? They gave me a little plastic bag with alot of elastic bands for me to replace mine after I take them out and brush my teeth. If not, I would suggest taking a small cup of water or maybe salt water even and pouring it in your mouth. I don't know about you, but my lips are numb and because of that and the stint I can't close my mouth, so I have to old my head back so it will get all in there and stay, and then just spit it all out or whatever best you can. I stayed in the hospital 2 days and I had a suction thingie.. that was my best friend.. haha.. but I just take a small cup and do the water thing.. it seems to help. I couldn't breathe out of my nose because there was dried up blood and stuff in there, and the first few days I had to wear a band around my head called a " jaw-bra " that held my mouth tightly shut, so I couldnt breathe through my mouth at all. It was awful with my nose. I had nausea also, and they all said it was from the breathing tube down my nose, but I think its also the conjestion or drainage in my throat. Well, I hope that helps.. Best wishes to you! > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 hey Alix! Well, I'm new to it all too.. but you can't take your bands out?? They gave me a little plastic bag with alot of elastic bands for me to replace mine after I take them out and brush my teeth. If not, I would suggest taking a small cup of water or maybe salt water even and pouring it in your mouth. I don't know about you, but my lips are numb and because of that and the stint I can't close my mouth, so I have to old my head back so it will get all in there and stay, and then just spit it all out or whatever best you can. I stayed in the hospital 2 days and I had a suction thingie.. that was my best friend.. haha.. but I just take a small cup and do the water thing.. it seems to help. I couldn't breathe out of my nose because there was dried up blood and stuff in there, and the first few days I had to wear a band around my head called a " jaw-bra " that held my mouth tightly shut, so I couldnt breathe through my mouth at all. It was awful with my nose. I had nausea also, and they all said it was from the breathing tube down my nose, but I think its also the conjestion or drainage in my throat. Well, I hope that helps.. Best wishes to you! > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Hi Alix! Welcome to the Other Side! I had the exact problem you did. I had a lot of nausea that no one could really put their finger on. I decided it could be a multitude of things (lingering blood in the belly, the tube, drugs) but I did see a connection that when my mouth wasn't " clean " I felt worse. You are not imagining this. There are incisions in your mouth with all the stuff that goes with that, nasal fluids, the mucus and lack of a good brushing and that darned splint! Sorry to be gross, but yes, that is all contributing to your nausea. Ok, here is my solution. I had upper and lower (twice!) and was able to do this right away. Others are instructed not to, which is bothersome for me to read, so check with your surgeon. Have someone go out and get you a waterpik. Fill the reservoir with warm water if your nausea allows, and add some salt to it. Flush out your mouth, keeping very careful to avoid the incision areas. Use it on the lowest setting, which is enough. With lower lip numbness, you'll have to hang your head over the sink and just let the water rinse through your mouth and drip out. The water pik is EXCELLENT at flushing out stuff you didn't even know was in there. When I saw what was flushing out, my first thought was " no wonder " and I felt much better. Ok, Step 2. After you do that awhile and feel somewhat clean, fill up the reservoir with cool water, then add some of the minty prescribed oral rinse. Use the waterpik with that and it will add freshness to your mouth. This is the closest you can get to a " brushing " inside and throughout the splint. Since you are only banded, you may be able to use a toothbrush (a baby one?) at this point, but you can't reach all areas with it so the waterpik helps to flush out the " unreachables " . To be honest, you won't feel total cleanliness until that splint comes out (and when your surgeon removes it and asks if you want to brush your teeth in his exam room, you will be elated and will probably want to brush for like an hour!). But doing the steps above will help get you there. My suggestion, do this first thing in the morning and before bed, but ESPECIALLY after every meal or liquid you take in. I know it takes time and you're probably tired, but it will keep the nausea away. I also found that milk products caused more phlegm and nausea for me. I learned to avoid them in the early postop days. Best of luck to you! Irish! > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Hi Alix! Welcome to the Other Side! I had the exact problem you did. I had a lot of nausea that no one could really put their finger on. I decided it could be a multitude of things (lingering blood in the belly, the tube, drugs) but I did see a connection that when my mouth wasn't " clean " I felt worse. You are not imagining this. There are incisions in your mouth with all the stuff that goes with that, nasal fluids, the mucus and lack of a good brushing and that darned splint! Sorry to be gross, but yes, that is all contributing to your nausea. Ok, here is my solution. I had upper and lower (twice!) and was able to do this right away. Others are instructed not to, which is bothersome for me to read, so check with your surgeon. Have someone go out and get you a waterpik. Fill the reservoir with warm water if your nausea allows, and add some salt to it. Flush out your mouth, keeping very careful to avoid the incision areas. Use it on the lowest setting, which is enough. With lower lip numbness, you'll have to hang your head over the sink and just let the water rinse through your mouth and drip out. The water pik is EXCELLENT at flushing out stuff you didn't even know was in there. When I saw what was flushing out, my first thought was " no wonder " and I felt much better. Ok, Step 2. After you do that awhile and feel somewhat clean, fill up the reservoir with cool water, then add some of the minty prescribed oral rinse. Use the waterpik with that and it will add freshness to your mouth. This is the closest you can get to a " brushing " inside and throughout the splint. Since you are only banded, you may be able to use a toothbrush (a baby one?) at this point, but you can't reach all areas with it so the waterpik helps to flush out the " unreachables " . To be honest, you won't feel total cleanliness until that splint comes out (and when your surgeon removes it and asks if you want to brush your teeth in his exam room, you will be elated and will probably want to brush for like an hour!). But doing the steps above will help get you there. My suggestion, do this first thing in the morning and before bed, but ESPECIALLY after every meal or liquid you take in. I know it takes time and you're probably tired, but it will keep the nausea away. I also found that milk products caused more phlegm and nausea for me. I learned to avoid them in the early postop days. Best of luck to you! Irish! > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 You can clean your mouth best right now by rinsing after each time you eat (drink)..... If you have a zip-n-squeeze bag, they do work the best. You can aim where you need the water to go. Zip-squeeze bags are meant for drinking from, but I used mine for rinsing. Did your sugeon tell you to take sudafed for congestion? That helps a lot along with a humidifier in the room. And keep on using a saline nasal spray to keep the inside of the nose moist. I was banded and splinted for 5 weeks. It gets better every day. A baby's nasal aspirator is good for sucking goop out of your mouth. Carin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 You can clean your mouth best right now by rinsing after each time you eat (drink)..... If you have a zip-n-squeeze bag, they do work the best. You can aim where you need the water to go. Zip-squeeze bags are meant for drinking from, but I used mine for rinsing. Did your sugeon tell you to take sudafed for congestion? That helps a lot along with a humidifier in the room. And keep on using a saline nasal spray to keep the inside of the nose moist. I was banded and splinted for 5 weeks. It gets better every day. A baby's nasal aspirator is good for sucking goop out of your mouth. Carin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Hi Alix! I know how you feel. I'm finally getting my elastics off tomorrow and I can't wait to actually brush my teeth. My surgeon gave me some mouthwash and told me to rinse with it everytime I eat. He also allowed me to use my waterpik - but you shouldn't use one unless your surgeon says it's okay. It can damage your stitches. I've been able to brush the outside of my teeth for the last few days which is nice also. Best of luck! Johanne > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 The best way you can -- ;~) tee hee! I don't mean to be flip, but there's an element of truth to that. Swish, gurgle, with water, salt water or mouthwash (diluted), and just do the best you can. A baby toothbrush, or a water pik, may help, if your surgeon allows. There are suction devices (machines, and tubes with bulbs), but some surgeons don't want their patients poking around in there. And the surgeon always knows best! Cammie > how on earth do you clean your mouth? I'm banded and splinted, 4 > days postop, in pain...but i think the nausea is made worse from all > the build up of mucous in my mouth.. it feels icky. I wish i had a > suction...any ideas? (and is this the congestion part? because i can > breathe through my nose, the stuff is all in my mouth..) thanks, alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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