Postoperative Instructions

Tooth Extraction Postoperative Instructions

The surgery that you have had requires your utmost in post-surgical cooperation for optimum healing to occur.

• Refrain from lifting up the lip or cheek just to look at the surgical area.
• There may be blood stains in your saliva for a number of hours after the extraction. This is common. If there is considerable bleeding, try to find the bleeding area. Apply firm pressure by holding a piece of gauze, or a moistened tea bag, to the area for 60 minutes without removing. Do not attempt to stop bleeding by rinsing!
• To lessen swelling, apply an ice pack to the outside of your face in the area of the extraction for 48 hours. Alternate the ice pack 10 to 20 minutes (on and off). After 48 hours, use moist heat and massage on the outside of the face.
• You may have several prescriptions. Your prescriptions must be taken as directed to be effective. Pain medication should not be taken with alcohol, when operating a motor vehicle, or when performing some action in which clear thinking and coordination are important to your safety and the safety of others.
• During the first 24 hours following surgery, do not drink liquids through a straw, spit, swish, etc. This creates suction inside your mouth and may cause bleeding.
• It is important to eat. Your body needs nourishment to heal. You can chew slowly on the opposite side of your mouth. However, you should avoid hard foods that require heavy pressure for chewing. Avoid sticky foods, highly seasoned foods, peanuts, popcorn, and potato chips! Maintain a softer diet but maintain a well-balanced diet.
• Please refrain from using tobacco products. Nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict and reduces your ability to heal.
• After the first day, begin rinsing the mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt per 8 oz of water). Rinse 3- 4 times a day especially after meals
• Sleep w/head elevated, place an old towel over the pillow, some oozing of blood may be expected the first day.
• Resume normal oral hygiene with only gentle brushing of the gums near the extraction site.
• If you have any problems or questions after surgery, call our dental office

After Periodontal Scaling

Now that you have had periodontal scaling, it is time to take care of the supporting tissues by using great homecare to prevent a relapse. After the procedure, you’ll want to follow these basic instructions:

• Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt in an 8 oz glass of warm water)
• Take Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory), not aspirin, which will cause more bleeding (unless previously directed by your dentist)
• Most importantly, FLOSS, FLOSS, FLOSS, and brush daily!
• Keep your follow-up appointments so that your dental health can be assessed and the frequency of your visits can be determined