EXTRACTIONS
The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal: The surgical area will swell. Swelling peaks on the second or third post-operative day. Trismus (stiffness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days.
Do's
- Use ice packs on the surgical area (side of face) for the first 48 hours; apply ice 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
- Eat soft foods such as yogurt smoothies, custard.
- Take it easy
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- After the first post-operative day, use a warm salt water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out particles of food and debris that may lodge in the surgical area. (Mix ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Mouthwash can be added for better taste.)
Don'ts
- Do not eat spicy, sharp,hot or hard foods. No seeds, nuts, rice, popcorn. Avoid anything that might get stuck in your teeth.
- Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least 3–4 days after surgery
- Do not use a straw—this creates suction in the mouth that could cause complications.
- Do not smoke for at least 48 hours after surgery
- No forceful rinsing esp. with bone grafts.
- No carbonated beverages
- Do not play /mess with sutures.
CROWNS
Dental crowns are excellent ways to protect your tooth and restore its function and aesthetics.
Do's
- Proper dental hygiene is essential to keep the crowned tooth and surrounding oral tissues healthy to keep your crown in good condition. Ensure you brush and floss.
- Teeth grinding or clenching can cause severe damage to your teeth and crowns. If you have bruxism, seek dental treatment or get a mouthguard to protect your crown and teeth.
- Regular check-ups to monitor your oral health and ensure your crown is in excellent condition. The dentist also cleans your mouth and addresses potential issues before they worsen
Don'ts
- Do not eat while numb. After getting a crown, the anesthesia might take a while to wear off. During this recovery period, avoid chewing and consuming hot foods and beverages, as you can accidentally hurt your tongue, cheeks, and lips
- Do not disturb the crown. Like many people, you may be attempted to touch the crown with a finger or tongue. Since your crown might take some time to settle completely, any disturbance can cause it to shift or dislodge, making it ill-fitting or uncomfortable
- Avoid hard, crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods for the first 24 hours. These foods can cause too much pressure on the crown before it settles fully, causing it to dislodge. Avoid hard candies, nuts, crunchy fruits and vegetables, ice, and caramel.
- Use caution with flossing. Don’t pop floss out, slide out cheek side for 24 hours
- If you use and electric toothbrush, turn off to brush side with crown for 24 hours. Also avoid Waterpik for 24 hours.
FILLINGS
Do's
- It’s normal for your tooth and the area around it to be sensitive after a dental filling. This usually goes away within 24-48 hours. However, until it does you can usually take over the counter pain medication, like ibuprofen. This will also help with swelling and sore gums.
- Opt for soft foods such as scrambled eggs, yogurt, and mashed potatoes. You can also eat fruits and vegetables, crackers, bread, and cheese.
- Once the anesthetic wears off, if you notice something feels “off” when you chew or close your mouth, contact your dentist. You may require a follow-up appointment to perfect the shape of your new filling.
- If your lips are dry or cracked after treatment, apply a nourishing lip balm and drink plenty of water
Don'ts
- Don’t Avoid Brushing and Flossing-Even if your tooth is sore after a filling, you should not avoid brushing your teeth or flossing. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and be gentle when cleaning the treated tooth. It’s likely that the gum tissue surrounding the tooth is sensitive, as well, so floss slowly and carefully.
- Avoid anything sticky, hard, or especially crunchy.
- Don’t Grind Your Teeth-It can be tempting to grind your teeth together after you have dental work done. However, this puts stress on your teeth and the new filling. If you grind your teeth, you risk chipping your filling or even one of your natural teeth, especially if areas of your mouth are still numb.
CLEAR ALIGNERS
Do's
- Wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day, taking them out only to eat, drink, and brush and floss your teeth.
- Gently brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and rinse them with lukewarm water in the morning and before bed.
- Brush your teeth after eating and drinking before putting your aligners back in. The biggest plus of aligners is you can floss in between teeth. The aligners fit snug and can trap any food debris or liquid. It will then sit against the teeth since the saliva isn’t flowing freely, which can lead to tooth decay.
- Store your aligners in your Invisalign case-Your Invisalign case will be your aligners’ best friend. Since they’re clear, they’re easy to accidentally throw away. Plus, pets love aligners and have been known to damage them.
- Please call if you notice a missing attachment(button) on your tooth. This is to ensure your teeth are moving optimally as planned.
Don'ts
- Don’t forget to take out your aligners when eating and drinking-You should avoid eating and drinking with Invisalign aligners in your mouth, with the exception of plain water. The aligners aren’t built to withstand the pressure from chewing food.
- Expose your aligners to heat. If you rinse your aligners in hot water, drink a hot beverage with them in your mouth or leave them in the hot car, they can warp. This will affect the fit and could ultimately impact your results.
- Automatically jump ahead to the next tray if you misplace your aligners. If you lose your Invisalign aligners, call our office and we’ll let you know how to proceed. Each set of aligners is pre-programmed to achieve certain tooth movements and plays a key role in your overall Invisalign treatment plan. Depending on where you’re at in your wear cycle, we’ll let you know if you can move on to the next set or if you should wear your previous set while your replacement aligners are being made.
- Use harsh cleansers on your aligners. Toothpaste can be abrasive, which may scratch your aligners.
- Don’t put aligners in paper towels when you take them off, ( you will throw them away)
IMPLANTS
Do's
- Take your prescribed antibiotics as directed.
- Take pain medication as needed for discomfort.
- Use gauze to apply pressure to any bleeding areas. If excessive bleeding persists for more than 24 hours, call your dentist.
- Apply ice packs to your cheeks for 20 minutes at a time. This will help reduce swelling and bruising around the implant site.
- Rinse your mouth with salt water as needed.
- Eat soft foods and avoid hard or crunchy foods. Avoid chewing directly on the implant site. Stick to soups, yogurts, mashed potatoes, and other gentle foods that won’t put too much pressure on your healing implants
- Brush your teeth gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Avoid smoking or using tobacco products.
- Keep your head elevated when lying down.
Don'ts
- Drink through a straw for the first week after surgery.
- Drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after surgery.
- Eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could dislodge your implants.
- Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours after surgery.
- No physical exertion. Get plenty of rest. Your body needs time to heal, so make sure you get plenty of rest. Take it easy for the first few days after surgery and slowly start adding activity back into your routine as you feel better.
TEMPORARY CROWNS
Do's
- Soft food and drinks are safe and can help you get the nutrients you need after you get a temporary crown. These include:
- Smoothies
- Pasta
- Soft fruit like bananas
- Cooked vegetables
- Soups and stews
- Boneless fish and chicken
- Pudding and Jell-o
Don'ts
- Foods to avoid while wearing a temporary crown include hard and sticky candies that can stick to and dislodge or damage the crown. Healthy foods, like apples and certain vegetables, should be avoided to protect your temporary crown. In addition to hard foods, also avoid food that consists of small particles and fragments that can get stuck inside or between your crown and other teeth. Some examples include: Granola, popcorn, raisins, small to mid-sized nuts, hard peas
- Avoid very hot or very cold foods, which may affect how well the cement keeps the temporary crown in place.
- Avoid flossing up and down, Slide out cheek side, don’t pop floss out.
- Do not use electric toothbrush or Waterpik around area of temporary crown. Turn off electric toothbrush in that area.
GUM THERAPY / CLEANINGS
Do's
- After the first 24 hours following your procedure, rinse your moth 4-6 times daily with saltwater. This can help to keep the area clean and free from infection.
- Clean your teeth using a toothbrush with soft bristles, and be gentle with the gums and teeth.
- Drinking enough water and fluids after deep cleaning is essential for optimal gum healing. Proper hydration also helps clean bacteria and debris from the mouth, encouraging healing and reducing the risk of infections.
- Do use Sensodyne for sensitivity after procedure.
- Eat softer foods if gums are feeling sore and still healing.
- Do take ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory, if needed
Don'ts
- Your gums and teeth will be healing and sensitive after a deep cleaning, so avoiding certain foods is recommended. These are some foods that could interrupt the healing process and should be avoided following the procedure:
- Acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes
- Challenging foods like steaks or large burgers
- Foods with small pieces that could get stuck in the gums, like nuts or popcorn
- Avoid eating while your mouth is numb.
- Avoid touching the treated areas with your finger, brush, tongue, or toothpick. Disturbing the area can cause unnecessary bleeding, swelling, and pain, delaying healing and increasing your risk of infections.