Dental extraction after-care (Day Surgery Unit)

After your operation

Mouth care after your operation

Do the following rinsing routine at least 4 times a day for 1 week, including last thing before you go to bed.

• Dissolve a level teaspoon of salt in a cup of hot water.
• Allow it to cool until drinkable.
• Take a mouthful of the solution and hold in the mouth, over the relevant tooth socket, for a few seconds.
• Spit it out.
• Keep doing this until you have used the whole cup of salty water.

Pain relief

If we prescribe antibiotics, take the full course as instructed. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers as needed (for example, paracetamol or ibuprofen).

(If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill, use another form of contraception as well, until you finish your course of antibiotics. This is necessary because antibiotics can reduce the effects of oral contraceptives).

Everyday activities

• Starting the morning after your operation, use a toothbrush to brush your teeth morning and night, as usual.
• For at least 24 hours, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as this can cause bleeding.
• Eat and drink as normally as possible, but avoid hot or spicy foods and liquids.
• Your mouth will be numb for several hours, so be careful not to bite your tongue or lips.

If your mouth starts to bleed

Do the following if your mouth starts to bleed.

• Sit quietly in an upright position.
• Roll up a clean handkerchief or cloth and place it over the relevant tooth socket. Bite down on it hard for at least 30 minutes.
• If bleeding continues, repeat this for another 30 minutes.

When to seek medical help

If bleeding continues, or you experience increased swelling or pain, go to the Emergency Department (A&E) at St George's Hospital, Tooting. (See Contacts below).

Follow-up

We may schedule a follow-up appointment in the Outpatients Clinic of the Princess Alexandra Dental Wing of Kingston Hospital.

Depending on which kind of stitches we use for your operation, they will either dissolve or we will take them out at your follow-up appointment.