Aftercare Instructions
Good aftercare makes healing easier and your results better. Below are clear, easy-to-follow instructions for the treatments we provide. Review the guidance for your procedure, and call us anytime a question comes up during your recovery.
Have a concern after your visit? Call us right away. We would always rather hear from you than have you worry at home.
Call (603) 924-3664General aftercare basics
These apply after most procedures, especially anything surgical. Your specific instructions below always take priority over the general guidance here.
Let the numbness wear off
Local anesthetic can keep your lip, tongue, and cheek numb for a few hours. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until feeling returns so you do not accidentally bite or burn yourself.
Manage discomfort early
Some soreness is normal. Start pain relief before the numbness fully fades. Many adults do well alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Take everything exactly as we direct and follow the label.
Control bleeding
A little oozing or pink saliva after surgery is normal for the first day. Bite firm, damp gauze for 30 to 45 minutes. A moistened black tea bag held in place can also help slow oozing.
Ease swelling
Swelling often peaks around 2 to 3 days. Use an ice pack twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours, then switch to warm compresses.
Eat gently
Choose soft, cool foods on the first day, such as yogurt, eggs, smoothies, and soup. Chew away from any treated area, stay hydrated, and skip straws after surgery.
Keep it clean
Brush your other teeth as usual and, starting the day after surgery, rinse gently with warm salt water. Avoid brushing directly over a surgical site until we clear you.
Do not smoke or vape
Avoid all tobacco and vaping for at least seventy-two hours. The suction and chemicals slow healing and sharply raise the risk of a painful dry socket or implant failure.
Rest, then ease back in
Take it easy on the first day and keep your head elevated. Hold off on heavy exercise for twenty-four to forty-eight hours after surgery.
Find the instructions for your procedure
Choose the treatment you had, and we will show what is normal, what to do, and what to avoid while you heal. Your specific instructions always take priority over the general basics above.
Tooth Extractions
After a tooth is removed, a blood clot forms in the socket and protects the bone while it heals. Protecting that clot for the first few days is the single most important thing you can do.
What's normal
- Minor oozing and pink-tinged saliva for the first day
- Soreness and some swelling that peaks around 2 to 3 days
- A tender socket that slowly fills in over the next couple of weeks
Do this
- Bite firmly on the gauze we give you for 30 to 45 minutes; replace it if it soaks through
- Rest with your head propped up on the first day
- Eat soft, cool foods and chew on the opposite side
- Starting the next day, rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) a few times a day
Avoid
- No spitting, rinsing hard, or sucking through a straw for twenty-four hours, as this can dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket
- No smoking or vaping for at least seventy-two hours
- No alcohol or vigorous exercise for the first day
Your printed post-op sheet always takes priority. Not sure about something as you heal? We are one call away.
Call (603) 924-3664When to call us
Most recoveries are smooth, but reach out right away if you notice any of these:
During office hours, call (603) 924-3664. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Healing well, with us in your corner
Need to be seen, or have a question about your recovery? We are here to help.