ON THE DAY OF THE SURGERY:

• Carefully follow the instructions for your medication.
• If antibiotics are prescribed, make sure you finish them.
• Pain medication must be taken as indicated the first day. Then, take it as needed over the next few days.
• Apply an icepack wrapped in a thin and slightly wet towel for 20 minutes, then remove it for 10 minutes. Repeat the process until you go to bed.
• Keep the gauze pad in place by exerting a slight pressure with your teeth for about 30 minutes. Repeat until the bleeding stops.
• Should the bleeding persist, replace the pad with a damp, wrung-out teabag.
• When lying down or sleeping, prop your head up using two or three pillows.
• Avoid eating and Dr.inking during the first two hours following the surgery.
• Do not smoke for at least 12 hours.
• Avoid hot liquids and hard or frozen foods.
• Do not rinse your mouth or brush the teeth near the area of the surgery – avoid spitting.
• Rest – you deserve it!

THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

• After meals, brush your teeth gently, being careful around the sutures. A clean mouth heals faster.
• After 48 hours, add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of hot water. Use it to rinse your mouth and soak the area of the surgery.
• Eat well. If you cannot chew properly, Dr.ink lots of fluids and soft foods (Ensure, milkshakes, yogurt, omelets).
• Apply warm compresses to reduce swelling.

Depending on the nature of the surgery, you may experience the following:

SUTURES 

• If they are dissolving sutures, they will fall out on their own in 5 to7 days.
• If not, the will be removed at the clinic after about a week.

SWELLING

Swelling will be worse on the second and third day following the surgery. It will go down over time.

DISCOLORATION

You may see blue, yellow or black discoloration in some areas. These are not bruises. They are the result of tissue bleeding and are nothing to worry about.

BLEEDING

Very light bleeding that lasts a few days.