When you have dental work performed, you may think you’re done; when you walk out the dentist’s door, you’re good to go. However, aftercare treatment is a critical part of the healing process. Proper aftercare is necessary to ensure you achieve the desired results of your procedure. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of your teeth and gums after a dental procedure:
1. Ibuprofen
We recommend taking 600 mg of ibuprofen after the dental procedure, even
if you aren’t feeling any pain. After the initial dose, continue
taking three over-the-counter tablets (600 mg total) if you feel any discomfort
or ache. The ibuprofen reduces the inflammation and expedites healing.
2. Local Anesthetic
If the dentist used local anesthetic, it can take some time for the numbness
to wear off. You want to be careful chewing and avoid drinking any hot
liquids. Because of the anesthetic’s numbing effects, you could
accidentally burn yourself or bite your tongue or cheek without knowing it.
3. Discomfort After a Procedure
If you’re feeling discomfort after a procedure, it’s normal.
The discomfort should diminish over the next few weeks, but if the swelling
or pain is too much to bear, contact our office immediately at (805) 295-8896.
4. Sensitive Gums
If your gums are sensitive after a procedure, a topical anesthetic can
help. You can pick up Orajel Maximum Strength at a local drug store. This
is a topical anesthetic that you apply directly to the gums and it can
help alleviate the discomfort. We also recommend rinsing your mouth out
with warm salt water; this helps heal the tissue and speed up the healing
process. It’s good to take Ibuprofen as well.
5. Avoid Infection
After a dental procedure, you want to do your best to prevent an infection
from developing. The best way to do this is to keep your mouth clean.
If you had an extraction, avoid brushing your teeth for 24 hours, but
after that, brush your teeth after every meal. You can also rinse your
mouth out with warm water and salt four or five times a day, but do not
do this any sooner than six hours after the surgery. DO NOT SWISH VIRGOROUSLY.
6. Resuming Eating
On the day of your dental procedure, do not eat sticky, hard or crunchy
foods. Instead, eat soft foods, such as yogurt and cottage cheese. If
you have to, consume soups or liquids for the day and nothing else. Do
not suck anything from a straw because it can remove a blood clot, which
is vital for the healing process. Also, avoid eating any spicy foods.
To meet our Ventura Family Dentist, Mark Weitzman D.D.S., contact us today for a free consultation. We treat adults and children!