Marieka....I'll bet you had a great adoption family party! I hope it took your mind off your troubles a bit. Did you tell this group about your upcoming surgery? Sometimes it's hard to drop not-so-good news into a pleasant event, but I hope you found a way to share it with some of the folks that are so important to you. They need to be part of your support team.

You seem to be really concerned about taking care of your mouth after your surgery, so here's what I was told to do: At first, during healing of the surgical edges, after I was allowed to remove the intermediate obturator, I was told to take a cloth (I chose some lint-free woven pads, and I found that my thumb was the best tool...Some cotton pads made for makeup removal come apart too easily.) and rub the edges gently with the cloth and an antiseptic solution (Peridex, or a generic.) It didn't hurt. And I did not go into my sinus cavity--just around the edges.

I was also told to use table salt and warm water and rinse my sinus cavity. It feels good, even if it is a little odd. You will find...or at least I do...(I still do this daily)..that plain water is uncomfortable to those tissues, since most of our body fluids are saline-based. If my solution is not comfortable, it means I didn't add quite enough salt. Stupidly, I still use a salt shaker and shake 10-11 times in half of my drinking cup of warm water. I should measure what is a good amount and then use a little measuring spoon, so I wouldn't be always guessing!

I brush my remaining teeth just like always, with the obturator out, being careful to floss well. The teeth that help to hold the obturator will tend to allow food to pack around them a little.(Remember that there is a saying, "Floss only those teeth that you want to keep." HAHA)

I also brush my teeth with my obturator in, just like I had a full mouth of natural teeth.

You will not be needing this information for a while, but you have seemed curious and concerned, so here it is....not a big deal.

Right after surgery, you'll need to ask your dr. whether or not he wants you to brush and use toothpaste.

If you use a mouthwash, use an alcohol-free mouthwash, like Biotene...or Crest alcohol-free. The alcohol will burn, and it is also not good for oral tissues in general.

So....not such a mystery, eh??

Now...it's your turn. Ask me a question. It's not like you have to know EVERYthing before your surgery. You are not going to be in Siberia where there are no computers. You can write at any time with a specific question, and I'll zoom you an answer if I have one.

I'll email you my phone number too, so you or your husband can call me if you or he wants to.

What's next??

XO--Colleen