MEDICATION:
- Medication is usually not necessary; however, ibuprofen may be used for discomfort or pain.
BLEEDING:
- Always wash your hands before and after touching bloody gauze.
- For the first 4 hours after surgery, the gauze packs need to be changed every 1½ to 2 hours.
- Usually the gauze does not need to be replaced more than once.
- A certain amount of bleeding is expected following the surgery. Saliva might be tinged with blood for the first 48 hours.
- Remove gauze while eating, drinking, and at bedtime.
BLOOD CLOTS:
- Avoid touching the area near the extraction site for the first few hours after surgery.
- Keep fingers, toothpicks, and other objects out of the mouth, as it can cause infection.
- Avoid touching the treated area with your tongue.
- Do not rinse the day of surgery unless instructed by the doctor.
ORAL HYGIENE:
- Brush as usual the day after surgery but be careful near the area of the extracted tooth.
- Use warm salt water rinses (½ tsp of salt dissolved in 8 oz of warm water) 4 to 6 times a day for 2 to 3 days.
AVOID (for at least 4 days after surgery)
- Avoid hard foods, crackers, chips, popcorn, nuts, and seeds for 2 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid sodas and carbonated drinks.
- Avoid sipping on a straw.
- Avoid smoking (it can be detrimental to the healing process).
- Avoid chewing on the opposite side of the mouth from the extraction.
Recommendations:
- A soft diet is best for the first 2 days after surgery.
If you have any problems or questions, please call (505) 988-2121.