Mary Makhlouf, DMD, MS, PA
1682 Westbrook Avenue, Burlington, NC 27215
336-226-8406
MOUTH CARE AFTER SURGERY
FACTS:







Ice used in an ice bag helps keep the swelling down, and can help lessen the pain.
It is easier to treat pain BEFORE it happens.
Spitting disturbs the clot and may cause bleeding to start again, or to get worse.
Smoking delays healing and can cause complications.
Sharing prescriptions can be dangerous. Do not take medications not recently prescribed to you.
Antibiotics may stop birth control pills from working. Use other means of birth control while on
antibiotics.
Warm salt water rinses after the first 24 hours will help lessen the swelling: ½ tsp: 8oz
DO NOT:
 Do not spit. Do not drink through a straw.
 Strongly advise not to smoke, dip snuff or chew tobacco at least for 3 days – will delay healing.
 Do not eat sharp or crunchy foods. Avoid the area of surgery when chewing.
 Do not stop your antibiotics before your instructions say to do so.
 Do not eat hot foods until bleeding has stopped. If you need to, let your food cool down to room
temperature.
EXPECT:
 Some swelling, especially the first 2-3 days.
 Soreness or discomfort in varying degrees. Follow Dr. Makhlouf’s instructions about how to handle pain
before it starts.
 Pinkish saliva or light blood in your saliva, or on your pillow in the morning. Oozing can last around 24
hours.
 Bruising outside or inside the mouth. This may not show up until 2-3 days after surgery. Don’t worry, it
will go away with time.
 Pieces of “bone” may work themselves loose if you had a surgical extraction. It’s OK. If they bother you,
let us know.
SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO WATCH FOR:
 Raised tongue or raised floor of mouth
 Airway tightness or breathing difficulties
 Monitor temperature for any fever over 100 degrees F
 Any swallowing difficulty
WHAT TO DO:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER SURGERY:
 Bite on the gauze with steady pressure for 1-2 hours. Don’t chew on the gauze. Don’t talk while the
gauze is in.
 Do not lie down flat. Raise your head support especially for the first 24 hours.
 Apply ice to your face on the side of the surgery - 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off.
 MELT some ice chips around the area of surgery all day.
 Before the numbness wears off, take a pain pill as instructed.
Team/Forms & Pt instructions/Mouth Care After Surgery 5/13
Mary Makhlouf, DMD, MS, PA
1682 Westbrook Avenue, Burlington, NC 27215
336-226-8406
Page 2
MOUTH CARE AFTER SURGERY
SWELLING:
 Expect swelling for the first couple of days. It should get better after that.
 If swelling increases 3 days or so after surgery, let us know as soon as possible.
FEVER:
 If your temperature gets over 100 degrees F, let us know.
 Drink lots of fluids.
BREATHING TROUBLE:

Any unusual difficulty breathing means you have to have someone bring you to the emergency room
ASAP or call 911.
BLEEDING:
 Light oozing is expected for 24 hours or so.
 Prop head up with pillows.
 Avoid spitting.
 Do not confuse bright red fresh flowing blood with lots of saliva colored with a little bit of blood.
 If you notice some bleeding, place gauze or a tea bag where it is bleeding and apply CONSTANT pressure
by biting down for 1 hour. Avoid talking during this time. Do not remove the gauze or tea bag during this
hour to “check” the bleeding.
 If you notice bright RED bleeding FLOWING out of a particular area, and filling the floor of your mouth, put
a wad of GAUZE on that area, bite down firmly and constantly. Call us immediately. Our telephone
number is 336-226-8406.
ORAL HYGIENE:
 Brush your teeth as usual after meals and before bedtime.
 Use a soft toothbrush around the area of surgery.
 DO NOT AVOID BRUSHING. Otherwise bacteria (germs) will grow and may delay healing or encourage
infection.
 Since you cannot spit, just gently rinse and let the water flow out of your mouth.
 DO NOT SWISH hard.
EATING:
 Cool liquids are a good point to start. Increase soft foods as tolerated.
PRESCRIPTIONS:
 Follow the directions for your prescriptions exactly as written.
 If Dr. Makhlouf gave you a narcotic medication, do not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol when on
that medication.
QUESTIONS:
 Call our office during office hours at 336-226-8406