To promote healing and prevent complications after your surgery it is important for you to take care of yourself and to follow these instructions for:

• Bleeding
• Diet
• Nausea
• Oral Hygiene
• Pain
• Physical Activity
• Sleeping
• Smoking
• Swelling and Discoloration

If you have any questions, concerns, or problems with your post-operative recovery — give our office a call. We are here to help.

To promote healing and prevent complications after your surgery it is important for you to take care of yourself and to follow these instructions for:

• Bleeding
• Diet
• Nausea
• Oral Hygiene
• Pain
• Physical Activity
• Sleeping
• Smoking
• Swelling and Discoloration

If you have any questions, concerns, or problems with your post-operative recovery — give our office a call. We are here to help.

Slight bleeding is normal and may persist over a period of a few days. When you leave our office you will have gauze placed in your mouth and you will be directed to bite firmly on the gauze. Leave the gauze in for approximately 30 minutes then insert fresh gauze.

Repeat every 30 minutes until bedtime. If bleeding persists, insert fresh gauze and repeat as necessary. Remove the gauze when drinking or eating, and when there is minimal bleeding.

Following surgery you will need to drink liquids and eat soft foods such as soup and jello. As you heal you will have less discomfort and be able to eat your regular diet. However, for the first 24 hours after surgery do not use a straw or eat hot food or drinks that could increase bleeding or swelling.

Nausea is not uncommon after surgery. Some experience nausea from the anesthetic, from swallowing blood, or from prescribed medications. Ginger ale, crackers, or ice chips in the mouth can help to settle a stomach but usually nausea will go away on its own. However, if your nausea persists into the day following surgery, give us a call. Please let us know if you pre-operatively if you are prone to nausea.

For the first day after surgery do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth. If, however, you were prescribed a special mouthwash, rinse gently the night of surgery, and then daily as directed.

Beginning the day after surgery, rinse your mouth with salt water (put 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) and rinse four to six times per day. Do not touch the area of your surgery with your tongue and avoid sucking as this could cause bleeding.

Post-operative pain can be the most severe the first day after surgery. Take prescribed medications as directed or for mild discomfort Tylenol or ibuprofen should help. You may experience muscle stiffness and have difficulty opening your mouth after surgery but you will find that the stiffness will disappear over the next few days.

If you have been prescribed pain medication, take it with food.

You should not undertake any strenuous activity after surgery for the first week. Physical activity such as running, bending, lifting, etc. can cause bleeding and delay the healing process.

We recommend nothing but rest for the first day after surgery.

Keep your head well elevated for the first couple nights after your surgery. This helps reduce possible swelling and/or bleeding.

For the next two days after surgery we recommend that you don't smoke. Smoking can cause complications, including bleeding, infection and pain. This is a wonderful opportunity to become a non-smoker. Non-smokers usually heal faster and better than smokers.

Swelling will actually increase after you leave our office and it will be at its greatest on the second to third day after surgery. Apply an ice pack for the first day after surgery to help reduce the amount of swelling but only apply for 20 to 30 minutes, take off for 20 to 30 minutes, and continue. Do not go to sleep with an ice pack. Crushed ice in the mouth can also help to reduce swelling. Once selling has occurred, heat application can help reduce it.

You can also expect some discoloration after surgery. This is expected and will disappear in time.

If you have any questions, concerns, or problems with your post-operative recovery — give our office a call. We're here to help.