Southern California Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Arts

Post-Operative Instructions for Oral Surgery Patients

Rennie Cheung, DMD, MD & Victor Ho, DMD

1. Bleeding/Protection of the Blood Clot: Maintain gentle pressure by biting the gauze sponge over the surgical area. Do this for at least 45 minutes to an hour. If bleeding continues, replace the sponge with another as provided and maintain pressure for another 30 minutes. Some blood oozing is normal following oral surgery and may persist until the next day. Do not replace gauze if there is no active bleeding.
2. No heavy rinsing for at least 24 hours. After 24 hours rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon table salt in 8oz. of warm water) every 2-3 hours during awake hours for the next 5 days. Do not rinse vigorously, this may initiate bleeding at the site of surgery. (The use of commercial mouthwashes during the healing period is not encouraged.) DO NOT USE MOUTHWASH.
3. Pain: Following oral surgery, it is normal to experience some discomfort. Appropriate pain medications will be prescribed by the surgeon if necessary. If none have been prescribed, take two Advil taken every 6-8 hours should be helpful. (As long as you do not have allergies to Advil or Ibuprofen)
4. Swelling: Swelling of the jaw and facial tissues often follows oral surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag to the
   affected side of the face as soon as possible for a 15-minute interval. This ice bag should be used the first 24-48 hours after the day of surgery. However, swelling may persist and even increase for the next day or two before it begins to subside.
5. The Toothbrush: The toothbrush may be carefully used in the area of the mouth not involved in the surgical procedure. A clean mouth heals faster.
6. Adequate food and fluid intake following surgery and/or general extractions is the most important. If you find that eating your regular diet is too difficult you should supplement your diet with nourishing liquids and soft foods. Solid food may be added as soon as they can be chewed comfortably.
• AVOID:
  Vigorous activity for 1 week
  Using a straw for 1 week
  Toothbrush on surgical site
• DO NOT:
  Disturb Surgical site
  Smoke for 7 days
7. SUTURES: If non resorbable sutures were used, it is important to return on the appointment date so that they can be removed unless they are resorbable sutures. In this case you may not have to return if the surgeon has thus specified.

Diet DOs & Don’ts

1. When you get home, remove all the guaze.
2. Have a big drink of water. Take your pain medication. Have another big drink of water.
3. DON’T USE A STRAW FOR ONE WEEK.
4. You may have liquids, cream of tomato soup, puddings, jell-o, plain yogurt, etc.(no seeds! vanilla, chocolate, etc)

Starting Day 2 (for one week)

1. Next day: start with soft foods – eggs, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, bananas, pasta, etc.
2. Start brushing today with a little toothpaste, avoiding brushing the area for a couple days.
3. Use warm salt water (No Mouthwash!) Hold warm salt water in your mouth for one minute. Do not spit, rinse, or swish. Simply let the water fall out of your mouth. Do this for one week.
4. If you do not feel better in 3 days – Call our El Segundo office at El Segundo Office Phone Number 310-670-0220, our Rowland Heights office at Rowland Heights Office Phone Number 626-913-5700, our Granada Hills office at Granada Hills Phone Number 818-365-0817, or our Calabasas office at Calabasas Office Phone Number 818-225-8602 immediately – Do Not Wait!