AFTERCARE
Everything you Need to Know After Your Procedure
What happens after your procedure?
During the initial few hours after your procedure, your mouth will still feel numb so there will not be any pain. Please take care not to bite your lip or tongue as you will not know how hard you are biting. It is completely normal to experience blood-stained saliva in your mouth for the first 24-48 hours. Please ignore this and swallow it, do not spit. You may notice some mild swelling on your face over the area where the procedure took place. Don’t worry, this is normal.
As the local anaesthetic wears off, the area can begin to feel more tender. Alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen throughout the day is very effective for this pain. If you needed any stitches, they will most likely be dissolvable. These usually drop out after 7-10 days. If non-dissolving sutures are needed, your surgeon will explain this to you and arrange an appointment for
suture removal. For most people, after 7-14 days, the area settles down completely.
What to do after your surgery
We have some simple instructions for you for the next couple of days so that your healing period is as smooth and easy as
possible!
Avoid rinsing and spitting for 24 hours after your procedure – this will cause the area to bleed.
Avoid hot food and drink for 24 hours after your procedure – this will also cause the area to bleed. You can eat and drink
anything you like that is comfortable, but it needs to be cold!
Avoid smoking or vaping for as long as possible after your procedure – this will help to reduce your chances of infection and other complications.
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours after your procedure. Take it easy for the rest of the day, avoiding any heavy lifting or exercising.
Please take painkillers regularly for the first few days – we recommend alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen throughout the day and saving a dose of each for before bedtime where you can take them together for a good nights sleep.
If you have any stitches, please avoid touching them with your tongue or your fingers.
This may cause them to come loose and risk them needing to be redone.
Keeping the area clean
For the first 24 hours after your procedure, you don’t need to worry about
cleaning the surgical site or brushing your teeth. The blood clot in the area
is vital for healing, and it is very delicate within the first 24 hours.
The day after your procedure, you can keep the surgical site clean by
doing warm salt water rinses 3 times daily, especially after meals, for
5 days.
You can make this at home by filling a cup with cooled, boiled water from
the kettle mixed with a teaspoon of salt.
Brush your teeth gently, and if this is uncomfortable, you can soften your
toothbrush by running it under hot water.
What can I eat after my procedure?
For the first 24 hours, it is important that you avoid hot food and drink to avoid causing bleeding from the surgical site. You may notice that opening your mouth wide causes some pain, this is normal but please inform your dentist if you find it worsening significantly. After the first 24 hours, you can eat as you find it comfortable at your own pace, but it may be a good idea to avoid food with small bits such as rice or nuts, to prevent small pieces getting stuck in the tooth socket.
Will I need antibiotics?
The majority of the time, antibiotics are not needed after dental procedures. This is because of the source of the infection has been physically removed during the procedure. There are some occasions, however, where antibiotics may be needed. These include patients who may have a higher risk of infection due to a medical condition, such as diabetes or certain medications, or there is concern that all of the infection could not be removed during the surgery. On these occasions, it is very important that you take all of the antibiotics as directed by your surgeon, unless you experience an adverse reaction.
What should I look out for?
As with any surgery, the area may feel a little sore and mildly swollen for up to 2 weeks after the procedure, with most people feeling back to normal after 7-10 days.
If you notice heavy bleeding from the area, this can be managed by biting down on the area with some damp gauze for 15-20 minutes, which your surgeon will provide for you. Placing an ice pack over the area can also help to slow the bleeding.
If you notice any sharp increase in pain or swelling after a few days, please contact your dentist as this may indicate infection. If you have any concerns after your procedure, it is important that you contact your dentist so that they may investigate and treat any problems quickly and easily.