Post Oral Surgery Care

Post Surgery Do’s and Don’ts

After having any oral surgical procedure at Downtown Sleep Dentistry and Oral Surgery it is important to follow our precautions regarding bleeding, eating and drinking, taking medications and oral hygiene to ensure you heal healthy and properly. If you have any concerns or questions once you return home please call us at (905) 528-8959 and one of our Hamilton dental specialists will be happy to assist you.

Bleeding

• Do use gauze or a fresh wet wrung out tea bag to completely cover the hole, bite down gently for 30 minutes
• Don’t continuously rinse your mouth the first day, you will dislodge the blood clot and bleeding will continue.
• Don’t sleep with the gauze in your mouth; take it out before you go to bed.
• Do call us if you cannot get the bleeding to stop, particularly if you are on an anticoagulant.
• Do note that a small amount of blood mixed with a larger amount of saliva can make it look more dramatic than it is!  A little oozing from the surgical site is normal the day of the surgery.

Eating and Drinking

• Don’t eat food that needs chewing while you are still frozen.
• Do eat soft, fluidy, calorie rich foods like ice cream, especially if you are recovering from a general anesthetic and have not eaten since yesterday. 
• Don’t worry about getting food stuck in the holes.
• Don’t drink alcohol for 48 hours

Medications

• Do take the medications as prescribed.
• Don’t continue to take the medications if you think you may be having a reaction. Call us or your pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Don’t expect the pain medication to take away all your pain; it usually just takes the edge off it.
• Don’t drive or operate dangerous machinery while taking a narcotic medication, you could be found to be ‘under the influence’.

Hygiene

• Don’t worry about brushing your teeth the first day. 
• Don’t use harsh mouthwashes, they slow healing. 
• Do rinse with mild salt water (1 tsp. per litre) 
• Don’t smoke for as long as possible afterwards.