WHAT TO DO AFTER SURGERY
Your activities should be limited for several hours if possible. This helps to reduce bleeding. If you have had IV sedation or general anesthesia, lie down with your head elevated on two or more pillows and stay off your feet. If you must move, get up slowly with assistance to avoid getting light-headed or nauseated. Do not drive the day of surgery if you have had sedation or general anesthesia. Be careful during activities if you are taking any pain medication. If pain medication makes you drowsy, avoid driving or using dangerous equipment until you are no longer using the pain medication.

BLEEDING
Bite on the gauze packs for at least 60 minutes following surgery to control bleeding. Then remove the gauze packs and take your pain medication while your jaw is still numb. If possible drink 4 oz. of a milk shake or jello prior to taking the pain medication. If you wish, you may replace the gauze with a new moist gauze folded into a tight cube and place it over the surgical site or you may use a moistened teabag. If bleeding is minimal,  you may leave the gauze out entirely. Some oozing is expected after the operation and may persist in small amounts for up to 36 hours. If bleeding is difficult to control, call the office or after hours phone number.

RINSING
Before you go to bed on the evening of surgery, you may rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water. One half teaspoon of tablesalt in a 6 oz. cup of warm water is appropriate. On the day following surgery you should rinse gently several times a day, especially after meals, to keep food from settling on the surgical area. You should continue rinsing until the gums have healed entirely which usually takes about one week.

RELIEF OF PAIN
Take your pain medicine before the local anesthetic wears off to insure that it will be working by the time that the local anesthetic has worn off. The pain medication should be taken with food in your stomach to avoid nausea. If the thought of food itself is nauseating, try a small amount of soup or Jell-0 prior to taking the pain medicine. The pain medication may be taken every three hours. If necessary, you make take two Aspirin, two Advil, or two Tylenol between the doses of the pain medicine. Narcotic (prescription) pain medicine is usually necessary only for the first day after your surgery, and rarely after two days. If you become nauseated after taking the pain medicine, stop taking the medicine. If stopping the medicine does not stop the nausea, call the office during working hours, or the after hours emergency number.

SWELLING
Swelling after your operation is quite variable and in some cases may be extensive. To help minimize the swelling and reduce pain, an icebag may be applied to the cheek. Keep the icebag on for approximately 15 minutes and off for 15 minutes. Alternate the ice pack from one side to the other every 15 to 20 minutes when procedures have been performed on both sides of the mouth. Do this for the first two days after surgery Swelling usually reaches its maximum within 36 hours and decreases after that.

DIET
To help the healing process, good nutrition is important. On the first few days after surgery a very soft diet is best tolerated. Some patients cannot tolerate the thought or sight of food after surgery. For these patients small amounts of Gatorade taken frequently is appropriate until the appetite returns. Avoid hot foods or liquids such as hot coffee or tea until the numbness has worn off and feeling has returned.

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