Care of Mouth After Oral Surgery

  • Remove any gauze from your mouth gently using a finger after 45 minutes of surgery unless advised otherwise. Do not spit it out
  • Have an ice cream with the prescribed medication after removing the gauze. If Diabetic, consider sugar free ice cream or other cold intake as advised by your surgeon
  • Keep your fingers and tongue away from the surgical area
  • Use ice packs on the surgical area (side of face) for the first 48 hours; apply ice 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off. (Note: Bags of frozen peas work as well.)
  • Do not use a straw when taking fluids
  • We suggest that you do not smoke for at least 5 days after surgery
  • Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least 3–4 days after surgery, after that, be careful—your regular caloric and fluid intake have been reduced, so you may get light-headed, dizzy, or weak
  • Severity of post-operative pain will depend on the procedure and your physical condition. Take medication for pain precisely as directed
  • Swelling can be expected. An ice bag can be used to reduce it. Use 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for 24 hours to help prevent excessive swelling
  • Difficulty in opening your mouth widely and discomfort upon swallowing should be anticipated
  • Numbness of the lips and/or tongue on the affected side may be experienced for a variable time. If it does not go away with-in 24 hours, contact us

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth and surgical extraction of teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth. The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal

  • Swelling with peak on the second or third post-operative day
  • Oozing of blood from the site of surgery and redness in saliva
  • Trismus (stiffness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days
  • You may have a slight earache
  • A sore throat may develop
  • Your other teeth may ache temporarily
  • Corners of the mouth may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with petroleum jelly
  • There will be a space where the tooth was removed. After 76 hours, this area should be rinsed following meals with warm salt-water. This cavity will gradually fill
  • There may be a slight fever for 24–48 hours. Notify if prolonged
  • If your surgeon has used sutures to close the wound, they might cause slight irritation, which is normal and expected
  • If your surgeon used non resorbable sutures, you will be informed about a follow-up appointment for their removal