Today I opened my mouth for the first time since surgery! I had the second post-op visit with my surgeon and he removed the elastics and let me brush my teeth. It was the strangest feeling to open my mouth for the first time. When he removed the last elastic my jaw muscles just quivered and I was afraid to move anything! I had mental images of my lower jaw just falling off, haha. But then my surgeon told me to open and close my mouth a few times and I could feel my teeth fitting perfectly into the splint when I closed. He said everything looked great! Then he gave me some time to brush my teeth.
I ended up brushing my teeth for half an hour! It was awesome. I could open my mouth about one thumb width which was just wide enough to brush the tongue side of my teeth too. I was most looking forward to brushing my tongue but I could only open wide enough to reach the front half of it without gagging. The back half of my tongue remains reminiscient of a yellow shag carpet. Eew.
After I finished brushing and rinsing my surgeon put some elastics back on again but this time only two on either side, though they're strong enough that I can't open my mouth. My cheeks feel so much happier without the latticework of elastics pressing against them. He said the elastics I have now will weaken in a couple of days but I shouldn't try to resist them and to keep my teeth closed in the splint. Apparently it takes 10 days for the bones to start fusing after surgery and I need to wait a little longer before I can begin jaw exercises to improve my range of motion. The incisions have healed enough though that I can start doing some lip exercises like puckering to improve facial stiffness, as long as it doesn't cause any pain.
My next appointment is scheduled for May 23, exactly 3 weeks since surgery. This is a big day because I'll be getting the splint out! Only 6 more days of liquids! I'm so excited to begin experimenting with "no chew" foods!
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