Dental surgery aftercare: what you can and should avoid

If you have undergone dental surgery, such as an extraction, dental implant, apicoectomy, sinus lift, or gingival curettage, care in the first few days is essential for proper recovery. Many patients want to know what not to do after surgery, how long the discomfort lasts, and how gum healing after extraction can be supported. Following the specialist's instructions reduces the risk of bleeding, inflammation, infection, and delayed healing. And this largely depends on you.

Beyond reducing stress and discomfort, we all want to know how to treat toothaches, avoid bacterial build-up and the risk of infections, have fresh breath, and achieve a quick recovery time.

General recommendations immediately after the procedure

Be careful not to consume cold drinks or food until the local anaesthetic's effect has worn off. Avoid hot drinks and food on the first day. Try not to disturb the implant area with your tongue or fingers. For the first 48 hours, do not engage in activities involving strenuous physical exertion, such as running or gym exercises.

Following the surgical intervention, it is possible to experience swelling and/or bruising, which may typically peak 2 or 3 days later. This is quite normal, and the signs of swelling and/or bruising will naturally disappear within a few days. Swelling can be reduced with the help of ice packs (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel. Apply to the cheek area over the dental work for a maximum of 10 minutes, followed by a 20-minute break. When sleeping, gently support your cheek on 2-3 pillows.

After dental surgery, pain shouldn't be a major issue if the doctor's instructions are followed. However, as with any surgical procedure in the mouth, swelling, sensitivity, or discomfort may occur for a few days. During this period, your doctor may recommend simple painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, taken as directed.

In the event that, a few days after surgery, you experience increasing pain, you should seek an urgent visit to the doctor's surgery to ensure you are not developing an infection.

If you have a prosthesis that covers the surgical area, please wear it as little as possible during the first week to protect the surgical site during its initial healing period. At night, it would be best to set the prosthesis aside.

Surgical threads are resorbable, but – often – they remain for approximately 2-3 weeks, in which case they could become uncomfortable or irritating. Therefore, we recommend you visit our clinic so we can help remove them.

Slight bleeding in the mouth after a surgical procedure is normal. However, if it persists, apply local pressure by firmly biting on a moistened gauze pad or a clean handkerchief for 60 minutes. Do not change the gauze. If the bleeding persists, for any reason, please contact us immediately.

If you have been prescribed antibiotics after surgery, make sure to take them as directed by your doctor.

What you are not allowed to do after dental surgery

In the first 24-48 hours after oral surgery, avoid hot food and drinks, strenuous physical activity, touching the operated area with your tongue or fingers, and aggressively rinsing your mouth. Also, do not smoke until the wound has fully healed, as smoking can slow down healing and increase the risk of complications. If you have been prescribed antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication, follow the doctor's recommendations exactly.

Care of the area and the mouth

Recovery after dental surgery depends to a large extent on correct oral hygiene and protecting the operated area. A clean mouth helps reduce bacteria and supports gum healing after extraction, dental implant, or other oral surgical procedures.

We recommend that you begin your oral care using the mouthwash recommended by your dentist for at least one week. This is very important. Rinse the surgical site with the recommended mouthwash for at least 1 minute, 3 times a day, for 7 days.

You should also brush your other teeth as usual with a toothbrush, starting on the evening of the day the operation took place. Avoid brushing the surgical site for the first few days, but gradually start to gently and carefully clean this area with your toothbrush, as much as the sensitivity of the area allows.

For healing the area, a very beneficial and effective remedy (although it tastes awful) is to rinse your mouth with hot salt water (a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of salt added). Make sure the mouthwash is not so hot that it scalds you, and hold it in your mouth, in the area of the surgical intervention, until it cools down. Repeat as often as possible.

Try not to eat or keep food in the area where you had surgery for as long as possible. Rinse your mouth to keep the area clean.

We recommend that you do not smoke until the wound has completely healed, to limit the risks of poor healing.

Gum healing after extraction: what is normal and when to see a doctor

Gum healing after extraction begins immediately after the procedure, through the formation of a blood clot which protects the area. In the first few days, slight pain, sensitivity, swelling, or minor bleeding may occur, but these should gradually reduce.
To aid healing, avoid brushing the area directly for the first few days, do not disturb the extraction site, and use the mouthwash recommended by your doctor. If the pain increases after a few days, persistent bleeding occurs, or signs of infection appear, you should return to the clinic.

We want your recovery after each surgical procedure to be as easy and pleasant as possible. Therefore, it is vital that you follow these instructions carefully and take note of the recommendations you received from your doctor. If you encounter any problems or require further information and clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Bibliography
https://theimplantcentre.com/patient-care-costs/patient-care/treatment-aftercare/