Post-Operative Aftercare
After your dental procedure, it’s important to follow some instructions that can help you cope with pain and recovery. Always reach out to our dental office if you have post-operative questions and concerns.
Pain Medication & Management
During the first week after your dental procedure, it’s normal to feel mild pain or discomfort. To deal with the pain, the dentist will give you proper medication. You need to take your medications as instructed, and always take it with food.
Advil and Tylenol are effective alternatives to common opioid medications. But don’t take these medications without consulting your dentist.
Antibiotics
Antiobiotics are powerful medications commonly prescribed by dentists. You must take these antibiotics strictly and with food. If you’re taking other medications, you must inform your dentist. Antiobiotics are known to interfere with other medications and can cause side effects.
Swelling
After the procedure, it’s normal to have swelling for 2-3 days. To manage this, you can use ice packs for up to 20 minutes within 24 hours. If the swelling goes on for three days or more, you should reach out to your dentist.
Bleeding
Just like swelling, bleeding is a normal part of the recovery process. But if there’s excessive and continuous bleeding, you can apply gauze the affected area for a maximum of 20 minutes. You can repeat this for a couple of times throughout the day. Visit a dental office if the bleeding persists even more.
Diet & Eating Habits
Do not use the affected area to chew food. As you know, this area is still sensitive to pain and pressure. You need to have adequate and nutritious food to ensure continuous recovery. Creating the best dietary plan is somehow tricky because you need to consider nutritional value and calorie content. You may need to do your research or work together with a nutritionist.
Smoking
Practically, smoking can do you no good. But if you really need to smoke, you should let at least 2 weeks pass after your procedure. Smoking will compromise your body’s general capability to heal and recover.
Alchohol
If you’re under medications, you should avoid alcohol. Otherwise, it will hamper your recovery speed and reduce the effectiveness of medications.
Rinsing
Dental mouthwash like Peridex is often recommended by dentists after the surgery. Your dentist will provide specific instructions such as the manner of using Peridex. If you had a tooth extraction procedure, you should rinse during the first 24 hours.
Brushing & Flossing
Brushing is important in the same way as flossing. But remember not to brush the surgical site because this can lead to irritation and pressure. A Q-tip can be used as a toothbrush substitute. As for flossing, you should be careful with angles. You can try water flossers but they’re more expensive than string flossers.
Sutures
After a periodontal surgery, sutures will dissolve over time. If the dentist used non-dissolving sutures, they can be removed on your next visit.