Post-Operative Care


Your child's dental care doesn't end when you leave our office. Caring for the mouth after any dental procedure is just as important as the treatment itself. Many complications can be prevented by following a few guidelines. Just a few simple steps will prolong your child's next visit and will help to heal and soothe any discomfort that they may experience.

Care of the Mouth After Local Anesthetic

  • Procedures performed in the mouth may leave the tongue, teeth, lip, and surrounding tissue a bit numb.
  • Most children will not understand the effects of anesthesia, and may chew or play with parts of their mouth. Minor irritations may occur from these actions or they may even cause abrasions or swelling to the affected area.
  • For about two hours after the procedure, it is wise to watch your child closely. You also may want to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the numbness has worn off.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of the Mouth After Trauma

  • The traumatized area should be kept as clean as possible. A soft wash cloth may also help to encourage the healing process.
  • If you begin to notice darkening around the affected teeth, please take notice. This could mean that there are nerves dying.
  • Our office should be notified at the first sign of swelling. Administer ice to affected area.
  • Watch for infection in the traumatized area. Please notify our office if you suspect an infection.
  • A soft or liquid diet should be maintained until your child feels well enough to eat regular foods again.
  • You should take care to avoid sweets and hot or cold foods.
  • Be sure to follow the instructions for any pain medication or antibiotics.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of the Mouth After Teeth Extractions

  • Encourage your child not to irritate the affected area by biting, sucking or rubbing the mouth in any way. The child should be watched closely so he/she does not irritate the mouth prior to the anesthesia wearing off.
  • Wait several hours before rinsing the mouth.
  • Resist the need to spit.
  • Carbonated beverages should not be consumed on the day of the extraction.
  • Do not drink through a straw.
  • Bleeding: Some bleeding is perfectly normal. If sustained bleeding occurs, place a cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary.
  • A soft or liquid diet should be maintained until your child feels well enough to eat regular foods again.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for at least a few hours.
  • Pain: For mild discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, you should follow the directions on the bottle.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of Sealants

Hard textures, such as hard candy or ice, may causes fractures in the sealant. Additionally, chewy and sticky foods such as jolly ranchers, starburst, etc. can pull the sealants out. You should schedule regular dental visits to make sure that the sealants remain intact.

The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants can play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. When properly applied and maintained, sealants effectively protect the chewing surface of your child's teeth. Regular visits to the dentist, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and limiting the number of times sugar-rich foods are eaten, are all healthy step to mainting not only good oral health, but also the health of your child's sealants.

Oral Discomfort After a Cleaning

A thorough cleaning will unavoidably produce some swelling and bleeding and may cause some discomfort. This is not due to a "rough cleaning", but to inflamed gums from insufficient oral hygiene. We recommend the following for 2-3 days after cleaning was performed:

Salt water rinse

A warm salt water rinse 2-3 times per day. (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water)

Pain reliever

For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed by the age of the child.