After General Anaesthetic

Will resolve over the next several hours, therefore avoid hot food and drinks and take care to avoid biting your lip or tongue at this time.

Pain is to be expected especially in the first 24-36 hours. Take your pain medications regularly as prescribed. It may be helpful to record when you last took your medication and when it is due next to effectively manage any discomfort and adhere to recommended daily doses.

Blood tinged saliva is expected, amounts may vary. If persistent bleeding occurs bite firmly on a gauze bandage for 10 minutes. Repeat if necessary. In the unlikely event that bleeding continues contact your surgeon. Avoid rinsing you mouth or actively spitting out fluid from your mouth on the day of surgery.

Avoid any excessive physical activities for the remainder of the day.

Is common after oral surgery. Cold packs applied to the face during the first few hours will help minimise your swelling. Apply every 2-3 hours for no more 10 minutes. Swelling will usually peak at 2-3 days but may last for up to 7-10days. Sleep with your head elevated with extra pillows to ease swelling.

Due to residual numbness do not eat or drink hot food or beverages for the next 18-24 hours. Hot foods and drinks increase the likelihood of bleeding and swelling. A soft diet is advised for the next week-eg. mashed potatoes and gravy, scrambled eggs, soup, icecream.

The day after surgery commence the mouth rinsing regime, rinse thoroughly with ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water after meals. Rinse with a 50/50 solution of Rivacol or Savacol and warm water between meals (up to 3 times a day) Continue mouth rinses for the next 2 weeks.

Normal teeth cleaning can commence the day following surgery. Be careful to avoid the surgical sites.

After any tooth extraction there is a risk of food becoming trapped in the socket, you have been supplied with an irrigating syringe, this can be used to gently irrigate over the socket. Use either ½ teaspoon of salt in warm water or the supplied mouth wash, diluted as instructed on the bottle.