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Post-Operative Instructions Following The Removal Of Teeth

Keep biting on the gauze pad for 1-2 hours after you leave the surgery.

Unless removed for specific reasons, you will have left with one or more pieces of gauze in

your mouth.

On the day of surgery do not rinse your mouth.

No Smoking - It is very important that you do not smoke for at least two days. Failure to

observe this warning can result in a very painful wound breakdown and infection, which may

require follow-up treatment.

Eating - Soft cool foods on the day of treatment. Normal foods (except hard foods) may be

eaten on the following days, keeping the food away from the operative site or tooth socket.

It is quite normal to have a little blood in your saliva in the first few hours following surgery. If

bleeding continues-:

Place a swab directly on the wound or tooth socket

Apply pressure to the swab by biting your teeth together or using a finger

Bite on the gauze for 3-4 hours

Keep head raised, eg. Head propped up with a pillow if in bed

If the bleeding does not stop, telephone the surgery on 02 62827633, or after hours 0422

653 562.

Swelling of the face and around the jaw is common following oral surgery. Ice packs should

be used to reduce swelling, 20 mins on 20 mins off in the first 24 hours to help minimise

swelling. Swelling is usually at its peak 2 days after surgery and takes 5 to 7 days to

subside. There is often some stiffness of the jaw for about 2 weeks following removal of teeth.

You may also experience some bruising in the jaw area.

Gently rinse your mouth with warm salty water on the day following surgery. You should do

this after meals, or more often is possible. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of table salt in a glass of

water and gently rinse for about 2 minutes. Continue for about 5 days or until healing has

finished. Also gently brush teeth in other regions of the mouth with a small soft toothbrush.

Avoid Alcohol

If dissolving sutures (stitches) have been used by the dentist, they can take anywhere from a

few days to more than a couple of weeks to dissolve. However, it is not uncommon for the

sutures to take longer than this period.

If you have been given a prescription for antibiotics it is important that you take them as

directed. If you have any queries ask your dentist.

N.B. It is quite normal to experience numbness of the lip, chin, nose and cheek areas;

stiffness of the jaw is normal; and stray bone fragments sometimes do appear. There is

nothing to worry about if bone fragments do appear, they generally fall out of the own accord.

Please contact the surgery if there are any further problems.