Home Care (cont.) Bleeding. After your teeth were removed, a gauze compress was placed on the wound, and you were asked to keep your jaws closed tightly for 30 minutes. This was to help stop bleeding and keep saliva away from the open tooth socket. This compress may be discarded after 30 minutes. Some oozing will continue and is to be expected. This is normal and is no cause for alarm. If excessive bleeding occurs, take a 4 by 4 piece of gauze, fold to make a firm compress, place directly on the area which is bleeding, and apply firm, steady biting pressure for 40 minutes. Sit upright, keep quiet, and avoid spitting or talking while biting on the pack. This may have to be repeated. A tea bag, dipped in cool water and used instead of gauze, may also be quite effective. If these measures do not succeed, call this office. After office hours, an answering service will take your call and reach the doctor on call. Diet. You will feel better, have more strength, less pain and heal faster if you continue to eat, but it is best to eat liquids or non-chewy foods for a few days. Because of surgery, it may be necessary to eat soft foods such as soup, milk, jello, cooked cereal, or milk shakes for several days. Some of the liquid diet preparations are helpful. Fluids. It is very important that fluid intake be adequate. Even though it may be awkward, an adult should consume two to three quarts of fluids each day. Children should have a proportional amount. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Activity Patients are instructed to return home immediately on discharge from our office with their driver or adult escort. Rest. It is always important to get plenty of rest with any surgery or illness. Fever. A low grade fever is usual after even a simple procedure. Fever may be caused by inadequate fluid intake as well. If excessive or at all questionable, do not hesitate to phone the office. Stitches. In some cases stitches have been placed in the gums. Usually dissolving stitches are used. An appointment for stitch removal should be made if stitches have not dissolved after 7 days. Emergeny Calls. If you have an after hours call of an emergency nature, please call the office phone number. The answering service will contact the oral surgeon on call. [Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Home Care] [Home Care (cont.)] [Home Care (cont.)] 1107 Hazeltine Blvd, Suite 532; 952-856-4100 6545 France Ave. S, Suite 690; 952-925-2525 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 670; 763-520-1234 dr@metro-oms.com