After Surgery
Avoid pulling on your lip to look at the surgical site or rubbing your tongue over the area. Do not spit. Do not drink through a straw.
You CAN NOT donate blood for one year.
Antibiotics
If donor material is used, you will be prescribed antibiotics. Please take your antibiotics immediately and follow all dosage instructions.
Discomfort
You may have moderate discomfort after the local anesthesia wears off. Most discomfort can be controlled by taking your pain medication AS DIRECTED.
Swelling/Bruising
After periodontal surgery, swelling is to be expected. To help minimize swelling and assist in pain relief, icepacks are advised to be applied to the outside of the face over the surgical site at 20-minute intervals for the first 48 hours.
Bleeding
Oozing from the surgical site is normal. This can be swallowed. DO NOT SPIT. It is important that you do not swish with water as this can disturb the clot and cause prolonged bleeding. It is always a good idea to place an old towel on your pillow when you go to sleep. *Should minor bleeding occur, moisten a regular black tea bag, squeeze it dry and then place it over the bleeding site and apply pressure for 20 minutes without interruption. If continuous bleeding occurs please contact us.
Activity
Avoid any activity or exertion (house work and heavy lifting) for 48 hours after surgery as this may cause the surgical site to bleed and possibly cause additional swelling. After 48 hours, you may begin to resume normal activities, however, if the surgical site starts to throb or hurt, stop the activity immediately.
Mouthwash
Your prescription mouthwash is Chlorhexidine, an antimicrobial rinse to keep your mouth clean and prevent infection. Use it morning and evening every day. Rinse gently with 15ml (3 tsp) of the solution for one minute each time. You will do this in the morning and at night until you come back to see us in 10 – 14 days. You have been provided with one refill on the prescription should you run out prior to your first Follow up appointment, please contact the pharmacy for refill.
Oral Hygiene
You may brush the rest of your mouth with a toothbrush and water, avoiding the surgical site, but DO NOT USE TOOTHPASTE OR ANY OTHER MOUTHWASH while using this mouthwash as it inactivates the Chlorhexidine
DO NOT floss any teeth near the surgery site. You may need to warm the mouthwash to body temperature in the microwave so it is comfortable to swish for the full minute.
Nutrition
For the first 14 days soft foods are best and chewing should be done on the side opposite the surgical site. Eggs, baked beans, pasta, rice, fish, cottage cheese and yogurt are excellent choices. You may experience sensitivity to extreme hot or cold food and drinks. The closer to body temperature your food and drinks are, the more comfortable it will be to consume. Avoid foods that are hot & spicy, and foods with hard pieces that may get caught in the surgical site as, popcorn, poppy seeds, berries, flax & chia seeds.
Smoking and Alcohol
Please refrain from using tobacco products 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after surgery. The use of tobacco products restricts blood flow to the surgical area and may in some cases increase healing time and cause unnecessary post operative complications. Please also refrain from using recreational drugs and alcohol 3 days prior to surgery and two weeks after surgery for the same reasons listed above.