[Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Pre-Op Instructions] [Home Care] [Dry Socket] [Implant Home Care] [Financial Policy] [Botox Cosmetic] Home Care Following Surgery   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.  Expect some blood in your saliva for several days after your surgery.  Do not spit, smoke, or suck on a straw for 3-4 days following your surgery in order to allow complete blood clotting in the tooth socket.  If excessive bleeding occurs, take a 3 by 3 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 our office. After office hours an answering service will take your call and reach the doctor on call. Rinses. Do not rinse the mouth the day of surgery.  Beginning the next day, rinse the mouth gently using up to a full glass of very warm water, in which a half teaspoon of salt has been dissolved. This is important both for healing and hygienic purposes.  Rinses should be repeated after meals and at bedtime. Resume regular oral hygiene (tooth brushing and flossing) as soon as possible. Pain. The amount and duration of pain one should expect are very unpredictable. Most pain after surgery can be managed with ibuprofen 600mg (Advil, Motrin IB) taken three times a day continuously for the first week after surgery.  If you received a prescription for pain medicine, use it as directed.  You may take the prescription pain medicine in combination with the ibuprofen if necessary for pain control.  There can be muscle discomfort after surgery, which limits your mouth opening for 1-3 weeks. Hot packs and ibuprofen 600mg three times a day can help with the tightness. Swelling/Bruising. Swelling and/or bruising is to be expected during the first week following surgery. To help control this, apply an ice bag to the operated side of the face for 20 minutes; remove for 20 minutes. Repeat this alternating procedure during the first day. To be most effective, the application of ice packs should begin as soon as possible. It is usual after removal of wisdom teeth to have a decrease in mouth opening, and this resolves over 1-3 weeks. If bruising occurs it will slowly resolves over a period of a few days to a week. Should your swelling increase after 1-2 weeks, contact your oral surgeon. Diet. You will feel better, have more strength, less pain and heal faster if you continue to eat.  Because of surgery and anesthesia, stomach upset may occur.  It is necessary to eat soft bland foods for several days.  If you become nauseated or sick to your stomach, stop taking all prescribed medications and rest your stomach.  As your stomach settles, take clear liquids and soft bland foods until you recover. Activity Patients are instructed to return home immediately on discharge from our office with their driver or adult escort.  Avoid vigorous physical activity for several days following surgery. 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. 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. Emergency Calls. If you have an after hours call of an emergency nature, please call the office at (952) 925-2525. The answering service will contact the oral surgeon on call.   [Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Pre-Op Instructions] [Home Care] [Dry Socket] [Implant Home Care] [Financial Policy] [Botox Cosmetic]   6545 France Ave. S, Suite 690; 952-925-2525 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 670; 763-520-1234 dr@metro-oms.com