Do

+ Liberally use ice packs on cheek area, hold some ice cubes in your mouth for day 1, and have some ice cream – to cool the inflammation (and pain) down.
+ Take painkillers (details below), especially NSAIDs like ibuprofen and painkillers like paracetamol.
+ Brush your teeth as normal, except the wound site
+ Bite on the provided gauze for at least 10-15 minutes after taking your teeth out. And put new ones as needed if bleeding cannot be controlled.
+ Buy Savacol mouthrinse and rinse it 2-3x a day minimum 2-3 weeks or until mucosal healing – this will make things heal uneventfully
+ Eat and drink as normal as possible, cold to room temperature foods
+ Take the prescribed medicines

Don't

- Eat until the numbness has completely worn off (if you are hungry it is recommended to have liquids instead in this period), otherwise you'll  bite your cheeks/tongue/lips.
- Smoke or vape (it makes things worse) at least for 48-72 hours
- Eat and drink hot foods (if it can burn your lips, it is too hot!)
- Eat on the area where the tooth/teeth had just been taken out (i.e. if we take tooth out on you left hand side chew on the right hand side more)
- Drink alcohol for 24 hours after surgery
- Strenuous exercises 24 hours after surgery
- Look at your wound
- Brush on the wound site itself → introduction of movements which can make things heal slower!
- Blow your nose if you have an upper tooth taken out as there is a possibility of having a OAC (oral-antral communication), where you make a tunnel between your sinus and your mouth (not fun, but it is recoverable.)

Expect

• Bad breath and some bad taste around the area
• Swelling around the area where the tooth has been taken out, depending on the surgery the peak of the swelling can be on day 3-5
• Wildcard potential: dry socket, if you have a history of this happening to you, please let us know. Tends to happen either on day 4 or 5 post surgery. Can annoy you for 2-3 weeks
• Sutures to feel a bit annoying after placement, that is normal
• Prolonged numbness for a few hours due to the local anaesthetic. Lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment.

Please follow these instructions as much as you can

Recommended way to take your painkillers:

Mild pain (niggling sensation, discomfort but a bit annoying):
2x 500mg of Panadol/paracetamol 3-4 times a day

Moderate pain (starting to affect eating, slight sleep disturbances, bearable but uncomfortable)
2x 500mg of Panadol/paracetamol or panadine forte PLUS 2x 200mg Neurofen/ibuprofen 3-4 times a day.

Severe: contact us and we will advise you on what to take

Based on the The Oxford League Table of Analgesic Efficacy and the WHO analgesic ladder

We wish you all the best from your recovery! Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions

To buy list

• Savacol mouthwash
• Paracetamol (Panadol) -> buy the cheapest one available, makes no difference to buy the branded version
• Ibuprofen (Neurofen) -> buy the cheapest one available, makes no difference to buy the branded version
• Ice pack (if you don’t frozen peas wrapped in a cloth would be fine)
• Ice cubes (make some in the fridge)
• Ice cream (why not)
• Any other medicines that we have prescribed for you