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- As you leave the office and when you arrive home, use a cold pack on your face next to the operated area to keep down the swelling. Keep the cold pack on for 10 minutes, then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this sequence for 2-4 hours. You will probably have swelling in the area tomorrow and the next day. It usually goes down in the first 3-4 days. Please call if the swelling becomes worse or if it affects your swallowing or breathing.
- Drink plenty of cool fluids, such as water or juice. Avoid hot foods and drinks for at the first 7 days.
- Do not smoke or consume alcoholic beverages for at least 2 days. Both of these items are best avoided altogether as they interfere with blood clotting and healing.
- Please limit your physical activities following surgery. Do not clean the house, mow the lawn, shovel snow, jog, do aerobics, play tennis, etc. for at least 3 day after surgery. You should be able to go to work (light physical activity) in a day or two. Try to take it easy and get a lot of rest the day of the surgery. Keep your head elevated by relaxing in a chair or using an extra pillow on your bed or couch.
- Take all of the medication given or prescribed for you as directed. You may have started some of them just before the surgery. The only type of medicine that you do not have to take all of is the pain medication. Take all the medications with food unless otherwise stated.
- You probably will have pain in the surgery area today and tonight, possibly longer. To minimize the pain, take the stronger pain pills according to directions. Take pain medications when you arrive home, at bedtime the first night, then as needed according to directions. If the pain persists or becomes severe, please call.
- You will probably have slight bleeding and a pink color to your saliva the rest of the day. Holding small amounts of ice water in your mouth will usually stop any slight oozing. However, if there is excessive bleeding the day of or continual bleeding the day after the day of surgery, call for instructions.
- Starting the day AFTER surgery, brush and floss your other teeth as usual (not the operated area). Do not use the Water-pik or water-flossing devices, they are traumatic to the healing process. Rinsing with the prescription mouthwash, Listerine or warm salt water will help to clean the treated area. To make the salt water rinse; mix one teaspoon of salt with half a glass of very warm tap water. Do not use water hot enough to burn your mouth. CAUTION: do NOT rinse vigorously. Instead, place the mouthwash in your mouth and gently rock your head from side to side, bathing the surgical site in the mouthrinse.
- You may eat most foods, but common sense suggest that you eat softer foods, take smaller bites and chew only in the areas where there is no dressing or sutures. Avoid highly seasoned foods and sharp foods such as nuts, popcorn and chips. Food supplements such as Ensure, Boost or a nutritional supplement drink may be helpful but a strictly liquid diet should not be required after the first day or two.
