General Post-Op Instructions

If you have recently had a procedure in our office please refer to the general instructions below. Keep in mind that you may have received personalized post-operative instructions for your specific procedure, if so please follow those instructions.

DAY OF SURGERY

DIET:  Cold soft bland foods should be eaten for the first day. This includes: Smoothies, Milkshakes, Jell-O, Ice Cream, Yogurt, Pudding, Apple sauce

BLEEDING:  Bleeding may be common for the first 24 hours following surgery.  Apply pressure by biting on gauze with firm pressure until the bleeding has stopped.  

  • Change gauze out every 30-60 minutes. Make sure gauze is out before you eat. 
  • DO NOT SLEEP WITH GAUZE IN YOUR MOUTH
  • If active bleeding continues, you may place a moistened tea bag at the extraction site and bite down on it. Tea has  tannic acid in it and will help you stop the bleeding.
  • Do not be alarmed if your saliva has a “pink tint” which may continue for a few days.

PAIN/SWELLING:

  • Apply ice packs (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off) to the face
  • Keep your head elevated on a pillow or on the  recliner to minimize swelling
  • Ice is helpful for the first 48 hours following surgery
  • Take pain medications, antibiotics and other medications as instructed
  • If pain is not controlled completely with the prescribed pain meds, then please call our office

DAYS 2-5

SWELLING:

  • Swelling will peak between day 2-3 following surgery and may continue for a week
  • If your jaw is stiff you may apply warm moist heat to the face in the same manner as the ice after the first 48  hours

RINSING:

  • You may rinse your mouth out with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt to 8 oz of water)
  • Rinse after every  meal and before you go to bed.
  • You may be sent home with a curved tipped syringe to clean out food debris from the extraction socket, do not use the syringe until 5 days after surgery
  • Brush your teeth regularly. It may be sore at the surgical site. If it’s too sore then a baby soft toothbrush  can be considered.  

PAIN:

  • Take pain medications, antibiotics and other medications as instructed
  • If pain is not controlled completely with the prescribed pain meds, then please call our office.  
  • At times the jaw muscles may be tight or sore and you may experience limited opening, this is normal following surgery.  

Once the sites are healing, usually after the first week, you can begin to advance your diet to your  tolerance. If the extractions sites become achy, please return to the clinic as you could get food debris  trapped inside. The gums heal with that down inside then pus or infection will develop and may require additional procedures.  

DO NOT SKIP ANY MEALS AND MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE FLUID INTAKE.  IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE CONCERNED, OR IF YOUR PAIN IS NOT WELL CONTROLLED,  YOU DEVELOP A FEVER, SEVERE SWELLING OR FOUL TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH PLEASE CALL US AT 210-490-4044.