Post-surgery instructions

Healing, following oral surgery, is usually fast and uncomplicated if you follow the directions below:

  1. Bleeding: Bite on the gauze sponge for 20 minutes. Replace it with a new gauze sponge for another 20 minutes if fresh, red blood is present.
  2. If bleeding continues, a wet tea bag may be used in place of the gauze.
  3. Do not drink or eat hot foods today, as you may dissolve or loosen the healing blood clot. Eat cool, soft, nutritious foods today.
  4. Do not "suck" on the wound site for the next few days. You may disturb the blood clot, causing bleeding, slow healing, and/or that bone pain often called a "dry socket."
  5. Do not eat hard foods for a few days in the part of your mouth that received the surgery. You could disturb the healing.
  6. Do not overexert yourself during the next 24 hours.
  7. Do not rinse today. Tomorrow you may lightly with either warm water and a pinch of salt, or Listerine and warm water.