What to Do After Periodontal (Gum) Surgery

What to do after periodontal (gum) surgery

• Do not eat or drink until the numbness wears off. At first, eat soft foods that are not hot.
• Apply ice on the outside of the face over the area to prevent swelling: 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off, until you go to bed. Sleep with your head higher than your body.
• Do not rinse or spit for a few hours after the procedure. Frequent spitting removes the clot needed to stop the bleeding and delays it.
• If bleeding is heavy, press a clean, damp gauze pad on areas without a periodontal pack for 30 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, please call your dentist.
• Take the prescribed medication exactly as instructed until it is finished. Start the painkiller and antibiotic right after the operation and the mouthwash one day later. Do not take aspirin or similar salicylic acid medicines.
• Mild pain and swelling may occur after some operations. Swelling peaks on the second and third days and then decreases. Pain passes within a few days, swelling and bruising within a week.
• Do not smoke or use other tobacco products for a week, so as not to increase bleeding or delay healing. Smoking can cause infection (abscess) in operations with bone grafts and loss of the tissue (necrosis) in free gingival graft operations.
• For the first few days, avoid very cold, very hot, sour, sweet, spicy, acidic foods and drinks. Otherwise sensitivity may occur and the area may be harmed.
• Do not brush the operated area in the first week; you can brush the other areas and clean between the teeth. Clean the operated area as your dentist recommends.
• When a periodontal pack is placed, it protects the area from external factors. The pack hardens after a few hours, so avoid smoking, talking, eating and hot drinks for at least two hours. Do not rub the operated side of your face, stretch your cheek or pull it to look. When lying down, make sure no pressure is put on the pack; otherwise it may fall off and the stitches may come loose.
• In plastic periodontal surgery, your dentist may recommend a surgical plate to protect the wound on your palate. Do not remove this plate, placed during the operation, for 2 days (48 hours). After that, wear it only while eating or drinking for a week. There may be some bleeding from the palate after removing the plate; in that case press a sterile gauze pad moistened with clean water on the area with your finger. If the bleeding has not stopped after 20 minutes of continuous pressure, contact your dentist.
• Come in to have your stitches removed 7–10 days after the operation.
• Even if the tissue looks healed 1–1.5 months after the operation, healing continues underneath for a long time, so please attend your check-up appointments.