MEDICATION:
· Take antibiotics as directed. It is important to complete the full cycle of antibiotics.
· Ibuprofen: 800 mg: take 1 every 6 hours for first 2 days.
· Your doctor will prescribe additional pain medication if needed.
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.
· Changing the gauze to often may cause continual bleeding in the socket.
· Remove gauze while eating, drinking, and at bedtime.
SWELLING:
• Apply an ice pack on and off for the first 72 hours.
• There is no need to use an ice pack at bedtime.
• If swelling persists after 3 days, apply a warm wet wash cloth over the swollen area.
• Make sure to exercise your jaw by opening and closing your mouth to stretch the jaw muscles.
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.
· Do not smoke or suck on straws for 4 days.
· Avoid touching the treated area with your tongue.
· Clots that are grayish, yellowish, or have a slight odor do not indicate infection.
ORAL HYGIENE:
· Use warm salt water rinses (½ tsp of salt dissolved in 8 oz of warm water) starting the day after surgery for at least 1 week.
• If issued an irrigating syringe, start use on the fifth day following surgery.
• Fill the syringe with salt water or TheraSol® as instructed by your surgeon.
• Rinse 3 to 4 times a day for 2 weeks, then begin to lessen the use as the surgical site heals.
• Gently but thoroughly brush the teeth, soft tissue, and the tongue.
AVOID:
· Hot foods/liquids for the first 24 hours.
· Chewing on the treated side of the mouth.
· Hard foods, crackers, chips, popcorn, peanuts, and seeds for 2 weeks after surgery.
· Sodas and carbonated drinks for at least 4 days.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
· A soft diet (soups, pastas, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, etc.) is best for the first 2 days after surgery.