Gargling salt water after wisdom teeth removal

Precautions to be taken after wisdom tooth removal

After a wisdom teeth removal procedure, unnecessary pain and complications of infection and swelling can be minimized if the instructions are followed carefully.

Immediately Following Surgery

1. Eat COLD, SOFT FOOD as soon as possible and take medications as instructed.

2. Change your GAUZE every 30-60 minutes until there is no more bleeding and then remove.

3. REST, APPLY ICE and ELEVATE your head with pillows

4. Evaluate need for PAIN MEDICINE in 2 to 3 hours. Take medications as prescribed with food.

GAUZE PACKS

Remove gauze packs from your mouth when you eat. Continue to replace them every 30-60 minutes until bleeding has stopped. Then remove gauze.

ORAL HYGIENE

Continue to floss your teeth and brush thouroughly at least twice a day with a soft bristled brush so that you do not injure the tissues in your mouth. Following extraction, clean the teeth next to the healing tooth socket very gently for two days, carefully avoiding the surgical area.

MOUTHWASH AND RINSING

You may use rinse your mouth gently with water or mouth rinse. After the first 24 hours, frequent rinsing with a warm dilute salt solution will aid in your healing.

ICE

You may use an ice bag over the operated area for the first 24-48 hours following surgery. Apply to the affected area for 20 minutes and remove for 20 minutes; repeat as necessary. Elavate your head with 2-3 pilllows. This will help minimize swelling, bleeding and disccomfort.

PAIN

Ibuprofen (includes Motrin and Advil) may be recommended by your doctor to help control your discomfort. A stronger pain medication may also be prescribed for severe discomfort. If the pain medication makes you feel nauseated,discontiue and substitute with Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Discomfort usually subsides three to five days following surgery.

BLEEDING

Some bleeding following extraction of teeth is normal. Tooth sockets may continue to ooze a little during the night and even through the next day. If bleeding seems excessive,rinse the mouth thouroughly with cold water, removing any superficial masses of clottted blood. Then place a tightly folded piece of clean gauze over the bleeding area using enough gauze to apply firm pressure to the tissues when the jaw is closed. Maintain pressure with the gauze pack for 30-60 minutes,keeping head elevated. Should this not control bleeding, wrap a moist tea bag in gauze, place this over the socket and bite firmly.

SUTURES (STITCHES)

If sutures are present, most of them dissolve. Any remaining sutrues will be removed at the postoperative appointment.

SWELLING

Swelling is common after oral surgery. It will usually peak at approximately 48-72 hours and resolve 7- 10 days following surgery. Should the swelling persist for an exteded time, please call our office.

NUMBNESS

Numbness of the facial region following surgery is normal. Take care not to chew or bite your lips

ANTIBIOTICS

If you have been placed on antibiotics, take them as directed with food.

******Warning for Women****** While taking antibiotics, your birth control pills may become ineffective. It is recommended that you use an assitonal form of birth control for the remainder of your current cycle.

REST AND NOURISHMENT

Frequent small meals are recommended: cold, soft foods (yogurt, ice cream, Ensure, applesauce, milshakes, smoothies etc.) the first day of your surgery, progressing to warm, soft foods (pasta,soup, oatmeal,scrambled eggs, etc.) the following days. Hydration is essential with non acidic juices and water.

NAUSEA

Nausea can occur after surgery. Make sure to take medications with food.

DISCOLORATION

Discloration of the skin frequently seen in patients who “bruise” easily. It is due to bleeding from the operative site into the tissues. This often present two to three days after surgery and may take five or more days to fade.

The following will cover important information regarding proper post-surgical care for wisdom teeth extraction. If you have been scheduled to have your wisdom teeth removed, it will be important to follow these instructions exactly as we present them.

Discomfort is normal after the extraction of teeth. If you are not allergic or intolerant to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, start taking ibuprofen (also known as Advil® or Motrin®) as instructed by your doctor at the time of your surgery. If you are asthmatic, do not take ibuprofen unless you have tolerated it in the past. If the ibuprofen alone doesn’t control your pain, also take your prescribed narcotic following the regimen provided at your surgical visit. Ibuprofen and your prescribed narcotic can be taken together. Be certain to take your pain medicines with food; this will help prevent nausea. Remember, narcotic pain medicine will impair your judgment and reflexes.

Gauze pad(s) should be placed directly over the extraction site(s) and held in place with firm biting pressure; proper placement will help you not swallow blood, which can make you nauseated. Replace the gauze pad(s) every 20–40 minutes. When the gauze pads have little or no blood on them, they are no longer necessary. The amount of bleeding will vary from person to person. Most of your bleeding will slow within 3–4 hours, but a small amount of bleeding is common for up to 24 hours.

Do not rinse on the day of surgery; it may prolong your bleeding. Begin saltwater rinses the day after surgery and continue for 1 week. Rinse with warm salt water 3–4 times each day. To make the saltwater solution, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a small glass of warm tap water.

If you have been given an irrigating syringe, start irrigation 1 week following surgery. Fill the syringe with warm salt water and place the tip of the syringe into the extraction site to clean. Do this 2–3 times a day for 2–3 weeks and lessen as the surgical site heals.

Swelling is normal after surgery and is a major cause of post-extraction discomfort. Swelling typically peaks by the third day and then starts to resolve; it can be reduced by the use of an ice pack. Apply the ice pack to the side of your face for 10 minutes; transfer it to the opposite side for another 10 minutes. Continue icing the face for the first 24 hours. Do not freeze the skin. Ice packs are useful for swelling during the first 24 hours only. Also, keep your head elevated on 2 pillows for 3–4 days. These measures will not eliminate swelling, but they will help to reduce its severity.

To allow blood clots to form undisturbed, do not eat for 2 hours after surgery. Start with clear liquids, such as apple juice, tea, or broth. Gradually advance your diet as tolerated. Always cool down any hot foods or liquids during the first 24 hours. If you were sedated for surgery, do not eat fatty, creamy or oily foods; these foods may cause nausea. You should eat only soft foods for the first week: for example, soups, eggs, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf are fine. For 2 weeks (8 weeks if you had lower wisdom teeth extracted), do not eat hard, crunchy, or very chewy foods, such as European breads, pizza crust, steak or jerky, nuts, or popcorn. To help prevent dry socket, do not use a straw for the first 3 days after surgery. Also, avoid carbonated beverages, drinks and mouth rinses with alcohol, and smoking.

Begin brushing your teeth the day after surgery. It is important to brush all of your teeth, even if the teeth and gums are sensitive. Bacterial plaque and food accumulation near the extraction site will delay healing. A child’s toothbrush with soft bristles is helpful in the areas near your extraction sites.

Do not smoke for at least a week. Smoking will increase your bleeding; the nicotine and tar in tobacco impair healing and may cause a dry socket.

Unless told otherwise, do no vigorous physical activity for 3–5 days following your surgery. Physical activity increases your blood pressure, which will cause an increase in your swelling, pain, and bleeding. You may gradually increase your activity, such as jogging or tennis, 5–7 days after your surgery.

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