Tingling or numbness in your mouth from a nerve injured during jaw surgery. You may experience this for a short time or up to a few months. Damaged teeth from the materials used to wire the jaw shut.
Can you talk with a wired jaw?
You may find it difficult to talk and be understood the first week or so after fixation. Be patient and try not to be frustrated if people cannot understand you. Talk as slowly and as distinctly as you can. Carry a pen and pad for especially difficult times, but do not become too dependent on them.
Is jaw wire painful?
Jaw wiring isn’t painful. Your doctor will wire your teeth together while you are still under general anesthesia. Plus, during recovery, you may actually experience post-operative numbness because a lot of the nerves in the lips, chin, and gums may still need to heal.
Can you eat with a wired jaw?
Once the wires or elastics are removed, you may need to eat a soft diet as your jaw muscles may be stiff. Examples of soft foods include puddings, casseroles such as macaroni and cheese and shepherd’s pie, meat loaf, spaghetti, soft cooked vegetables and canned fruits. liquid so you can drink it through a straw.
How long will my jaw be wired shut?
Your jaws will be wired together approximately six to eight weeks. This is the time it takes for the bones to heal in a good, strong union. During the time your jaws are wired together, you will find eating, talking and other daily activities somewhat difficult.
What do you drink with a wired jaw?
Put milk or soy beverage with yogurt or ice cream and fruit in a blender to make milkshakes. Drink liquid supplements, such as Ensure or Boost, one or two times a day. Try to drink or eat liquid foods 6 times a day rather than 3 times a day.
Can you smoke with your jaw wired shut?
DO NOT SMOKE!Do not use straws for several days unless your jaws are wired shut. DO NOT drive, operate machinery or any other potentially dangerous items, or be solely responsible for child care for 24 hours after IV anesthesia (or at any time when taking prescription pain medication).
What if you throw up with your jaw wired shut?
What to do if you vomit: You do not need to cut the wires if you are only vomiting. Do the following: Bend your head over and allow the liquid to flow out of your mouth.
How do you sleep with a wired jaw?
It is recommended that you sleep with your head on two or three pillows. This helps to decrease the swelling in your face and also will make it easier for you to breathe. Avoid doing anything that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or straining while your jaws are wired together.
How much weight do you lose after jaw surgery?
Following your surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period, especially if your jaw is wired shut, you could lose as much as 10 percent of your body weight.
How long is liquid diet after jaw surgery?
Chewing food after surgery can be painful and slow down your healing. After surgery, it is very important to eat and drink enough to help you heal. You will need to follow a liquid or pureed diet until your jaw has healed. This usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
Can a broken jaw heal without being wired?
Simple, closed, stable fractures can sometimes be very successfully treated without surgery or wiring the jaws shut. Patients must be extremely compliant with instructions for this to be successful.
How do they wire a jaw shut?
Jaw wiring is performed by attaching orthodontic brackets to the teeth, and wrapping pliable wire either around or through the brackets or with the use of arch bars or loops affixed with wires around the teeth, or with metal splints bonded to the teeth.
Can you drink alcohol with a broken jaw?
In addition to alcohol, smoking and junk food should be avoided during fracture healing due to the plethora of damage both do to the body.
How do you brush your teeth with a broken jaw?
Generally speaking, your mouth will not be wired together therefore it is easier to brush your teeth. If you are wearing elastics and a plastic splint then you can brush with no problem. Once the splint is taken out of your mouth in a week you can take the rubber bands out to rinse and brush your teeth.
Can I use a straw after jaw surgery?
Numbness, facial swelling and soreness can make eating and drinking a difficult task at first. No straws, spitting, smoking, or carbonated beverages for 3 weeks after surgery.
Can I get my mouth wired shut to lose weight?
It turns out, keeping your mouth shut can cause weight loss. Researchers have developed an unprecedented weight-loss device capable of fighting the global obesity epidemic that works by magnetically clamping your jaw shut, according to a recent study published in the British Dental Journal.
Can you kiss with your jaw wired shut?
Things you can’t do when your jaw is wired shut: sneeze, yawn, cough, kiss, eat solid food, give directions in a graveyard without coming off SUPER creepy.
Can you chew with broken jaw?
During your recovery, you won’t be able to open your jaw very wide for at least six weeks. Your diet during this time will consist of mostly liquids as you likely won’t be able to chew solid food. A few of the soft foods you may be able to chew depending on your situation include: Canned meat.
Can I brush my teeth after jaw surgery?
Hygiene. As with any surgical wound, it is extremely important for you to keep all areas inside your mouth clean after surgery. You should brush your teeth and rinse your mouth each time after you eat.