Tooth Extraction Post-Surgical Instructions

Day of Surgery

GENERAL: Limit your activity for several hours.  Be sure to have someone assisting your care at your home.  Do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you have received sedation or general anesthesia.  Sleep with your head elevated on 2-3 pillows, preferably on your back.

BLEEDING:  Place small rolls of gauze over your wounds (not between your teeth) and bite firmly for a few hours after surgery to control the bleeding.  Change gauze as needed (usually once every 45 minutes to an hour).  Some oozing is expected, but this should subside by evening time.  Do not be alarmed if your saliva is pink – one drop of blood will color all your saliva.  Only heavy bleeding is a cause for concern.

SWELLING: Swelling after surgery can vary from minor to extensive.  To minimize swelling, apply an ice pack to your cheek.  Alternate for 15 minutes on, then 5-10 minutes off.  If procedures have been done to both sides of the face, alternate the ice pack from side to side.

MEDICATION: Follow the instructions given by the doctor.

ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your front teeth as normal (for wisdom teeth extractions).  Avoid touching the operated area.  The toothbrush bristles will irritate the wound, and may cause an infection.  You may rinse minimally with cold water very gently this first day – but do not swish the water around in your mouth.

DIET: For the day of surgery, stay with a diet of cold, soft, bland foods, such as ice cream, pudding, Jell-O, applesauce, etc.  Do not consume anything that requires chewing, or that is fried.  Do not use a straw, for doing so creates suction within your mouth that may dislodge any forming blood clots.

Day after Surgery

GENERAL: Continue to limit your activity.  Do not do vigorous exercise for 2-3 days after surgery, or in any way increase blood flow to your head.  Sleep up on two to three pillows.  You may want to put older pillowcases on your pillows in case you bleed during the night.  Do not consume alcohol or tobacco for seven days after surgery.  Alcohol is dangerous when consumed with pain medication, and can delay the healing process; tobacco also delays healing, the suction created by smoking will displace the forming blood clots, and tobacco usage frequent causes dry sockets.

SWELLING: Swelling will peak 36 hours after surgery.  Around 24 hours after surgery, you may apply heating packs to the side of your face, just as you did the ice packs.  Swelling will begin to decrease on the third day after surgery, and should subside 7-10 days after surgery.

MEDICATION: Continue taking the medication as your doctor instructs.

ORAL HYGIENE: Around 24 hours after surgery, you may begin to soak your surgical wounds gently with warm salt water (1/2 c. water, ½ tsp. salt) every two hours to keep the area clean of infection until the gums have healed initially (about a week).  Start brushing your teeth after meals.  Be cautious when brushing – avoid direct contact between the toothbrush and the surgical area for the first 3-4 days.

DIET: Continue eating only soft, bland foods; you may progress to room temperature foods the day after surgery, and warm foods the day after that.  Do not return to normal eating habits and foods (especially fried, spicy foods) until a week has passed.


After-hour/night contact number: (617) 465-5470
In the event you need to reach Dr. Kuo for questions you do not think can or should be put off till office hours, you may page the doctor.  Dial the pager number, punch in your call back number after the first series of beeps, and then push # to send. Hang up when you hear the second set of beeps.  Dr. Kuo will call you back.

Dr. Paul C. Kuo, MD, DMD, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Ann-Marie O’Connor, DMD, MMSc Periodontist,
Dr. Thomas R. Ollerhead, DMD, CAGS Endodontist, Dr. Willie L. Stephens, DDS, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

© Copyright 2005 Dental Specialty Partners of New England, LLC