Do not disturb extraction/surgical site with your tongue. No smoking for several days. Do not drink from a straw for several days. Doing any of the above, may invite irritation, infection, bleeding or a painful condition known as a dry socket.

Brush and floss as normal, being careful around the extraction/surgical site. After 24 hours you may begin rinsing with a mixture of 1/4 tsp. Salt in a cup of warm water. Do not rinse vigorously, as you do not want to dislodge the blood clot that has formed.

It is normal for there to be some seepage from the site for a period of time, you may even find blood on your pillow the following morning. Do not be alarmed, this is very common. However should you experience excessive bleeding, roll some gauze (we will provide some for you to take with you), dampen with cold water and place it firmly on the extraction site and apply pressure for 30 minutes. If the bleeding does not subside, call the office for further instructions.

You may experience discomfort or pain, this is not uncommon. A prescription may be given by the Doctor, if so follow the directions given to you. If nothing is prescribed, you may want to take lbuprofen; 800 mg. Every 4 ? 6 hours as needed not to exceed daily dosage as per package instructions. lbuprofen is an anti?inflammatory analgesic and works well.

To prevent swelling, you may apply an ice pack to the affected area. Alternating 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for several hours.

To relieve bruising, you may, after 24 hours, apply warm moist compresses to the affected area.

You need to keep your nutritional needs in mind. You are encouraged to eat and drink. Avoid spicy, acidic foods (tomato sauces, fruit juices etc.), carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Avoid extremely hot food temperatures. You may choose to start with a softer diet ex. Scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, puddings, yogurts, soups etc. You are the best judge of what you can tolerate.

It is normal, during the healing process for sharp fragments of bone to work their way up through the gum. If this happens and is annoying, call our office for further instructions or to set up a time to come in.

Should you have any condition that appears unusual, or if you have any concerns, do not hesitate to call us.