On The Day Of The Surgery

• Avoid hot drinks and food, alcohol, playing with the wound and rinsing your mouth
• Drink plenty of cold or warm drinks and eat soft food
• Smoking delays healing. Stop smoking
• Avoid vigorous physical activity
• Use Paracetamol and Ibuprofen or prescribed tablets for pain relief. It is recommended that you start this before the local anesthesia wears off.  Pain relievers containing Asprin or Disprin should not be used as they can cause increased bleeding.  If you take any of these medications check with your dentist.
• To minimize swelling an ice pack (small bag of frozen peas) may be held on the side of the face.  Apply 10-15 minutes every hour on the day of surgery.
• Slight oozing of blood is normal.  If significant bleeding occurs, place a gauze or cotton pad over the bleeding site and apply pressure by biting down firmly for 15 to 30 minutes. This may need to be repeated.
• If bleeding is excessive and uncontrolled by pressure, contact your dentist.

On The Day After Surgery

• It is essential to keep all wounds clean
• Brush your teeth including those around the wound.  Food remnants and plaque delay healing.
• Bathe your mouth gently 6 to 8 times a day with very warm salt water (level teaspoon of salt in a glass of water).  Continue to do this, especially after eating, until the wound has completely healed.  Avoid rinsing vigorously in the first 24 hours as this will dislodge the blood clot.
• Chlorhexidine (Savacol) mouthwash will help reduce the risk of infection. Some bleeding, swelling, discomfort and tightness of jaw muscles is normal.
• If symptoms become severe, please contact your dentist immediately.