RULE 1: Keep the gauze pads that your doctor placed pressed firmly against the extraction site for 30 minutes to control bleeding and protect the forming blood clot.
RULE 2: Use anti-inflammatories to ensure your comfort during the recovery period. Be sure to follow up with your specialist as per the prescription instructions. It is best to take your first analgesic before the local anesthesia wears off.
If your anti-inflammatories are not enough to ensure your comfort please call FLOSS Dental Clinic and our professionals will prescribe a secondary analgesic as needed.
RULE3: Apply an ice pack to the surgical site within the first 2 hours to reduce inflammation. Apply pressure with the ice pack we provide for 10-15 minute periods on an off for the first 2 hours.
RULE 4: Don’t avoid brushing completely nor brush to rigorously. You should avoid brushing for the first 24hours. However from the next evening it is best to return to proper oral hygiene habits to decrease the overall microbial load in the mouth. Brushing, ideally, should be performed gently on the intervened area, but the cleaning of the other teeth should be performed with your regular tooth brush as normal.
RULE 5: Be gentle with your mouth! After oral surgery it is best to allow the wound to heal without disturbing it. To do so follow these 3 suggestions:
a. Avoid making changes to the pressure in your mouth as this can dislodge a blood clot that is forming and delay full healing. Avoid spitting, gargling, using straws and smoking for the first 3 days.
b. After your anesthesia wears off, you can eat soft foods at room temperature on the other side. Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods for several days after surgery.
c. Be gentle while brushing and rinsing. After the first 24 hours, when you start brushing again (the evening after the procedure), do not spit or gargle! Rather place a smaller amount of toothpaste and after brushing use an antiseptic mouthwash to gently rinse the mouth without applying any extra gargling pressure.
RULE 6: Do not smoke or drink excessive alcohol after surgery as this may delay your recovery. Eat and sleep well to help your body recover.
RULE 7: Be patient! It is important to be patient during the recovery period. Depending on the type of oral surgery, recovery can take from 48 hours to 1 month.