Home Care

Home Care After Extractions

Bleeding: After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after an extraction. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

The First 24 HOURS: After the blood clot forms, it’s important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours. So don’t rinse your mouth vigorously, don’t smoke, don’t drink carbonated beverages, don’t drink through a straw, and don’t clean the teeth next to the extraction site. These activities would dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Keep your head elevated (two pillows, recliner etc.) and limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. This keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding, and helps the healing process.

Swelling: After the tooth is extracted, you may have some swelling. For the first 24 hours you can use an ice bag (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) to keep this to a minimum. A small bag of frozen peas makes a great ice bag. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.

Pain: To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. It is best to take pain medication before the anesthetic wears off or before pain begins. Don’t take medication on an empty stomach or nausea may result. For mild to average pain, you will probably get relief using an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (Aleve or Advil); if pain persists, use the medication prescribed.

Antibiotics: If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

Food: Drink lots of non-carbonated fluids and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Don’t use alcoholic beverages, and avoid hot and spicy foods. You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it’s comfortable.

Tomorrow: Starting tomorrow gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water three times a day using one quarter teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Continue for three days. Also, rinse gently after meals. It helps keep food out of the extraction site. It’s very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.

Bony Edges: Small sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums during healing. These are not roots; if annoying, return to us for their simple removal.

Call Us Right Away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days, you’ll be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.

(504) 885-8869

CloSYS

Congratulations, on taking advantage of the latest advance in oral preventive home care. CloSYS Complete Oral Health System uses a unique and patented chlorine dioxide formula, a highly effective oxidant that destroys major bacteria associated with cavities, plaque, gum disease and bad breath. Since incorporating CloSYS toothpaste and rinse into our practice we have noticed dramatic improvements in our patient’s oral health and believe these to be the best oral care products available on the market today.

CloSYS toothpaste and rinse create a unique “Powerful and Pleasing” combination that works much differently than traditional oral care.

Powerful

Kills 99% of germs found in plaque using a patented stabilized chlorine dioxide formula.
Destroys Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs), the principle cause of bad breath, for up to 8 hours.
Fights gum disease by reducing bleeding and inflamed gums.
Fights cavities by reducing decay-causing bacteria.
Whitens teeth as it removes tough stains with its unique combination of hydrated silica and the oxidizing power of chlorine dioxide.

Pleasing

Paste and rinse are ph balanced for a healthier mouth.
Paste is non-foaming because it does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) an abrasive foaming agent that can irritate the mouth and cause mouth ulcers and sensitive teeth.
Non-staining rinse is alcohol-free so it won’t burn, irritate, or dry out soft tissues.
Noticeable cleaner feeling and fresher breath after each use that works up to 8 hours.
Up to 4 times more brushes per tube – a pea-sized amount is all you need.
Paste is one of the lowest abrasive on the market and kind to enamel and exposed root surfaces.

Directions for Use

Pre-rinse your mouth with water to neutralize any acidic environment in your mouth before brushing.
Use a tongue cleaner to scrape the back of your tongue, a major source of bacteria and bad breath.
Use an Oral-B Braun electric toothbrush or manual soft bristle toothbrush, brush with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for two minutes.
Spit out excess toothpaste (do not rinse) and immediately follow with flossing and other interdental cleaning devices that may have been recommended, such as Soft Picks or Interdental Brushes.
After brushing and flossing, allow paste to remain in your mouth for a short while before using the rinse.
Rinse with CloSYS oral rinse: swish and gargle thoroughly for at least 30 seconds with 5 ml (1/2 cap full just over the top of threads inside of cap).
Use CloSYS as directed above twice a day; every morning and night before going to bed.

Note: Using more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste does not increase the foaming capacity of the product. CloSYS is SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) free, which is a foaming agent found in most other toothpaste that can irritate the mouth and cause mouth ulcers or sensitive teeth.

More information on CloSYS can be found online at www.rowpar.com or by calling our office (885-8869).

Temporary Crown or Bridge

There are a few important things you should know about your temporary:

It is made of plastic and cemented with a temporary cement to protect your tooth for only a short period of time while your permanent crown is being made.
To help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods (especially gum), and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
It should feel comfortable. Although you may experience some sensitivity initially, you should not experience any soreness or discomfort after the first 48 hours. If your bite feels uneven, or your tooth feels uncomfortable, please call our office and let us know what symptoms you are experiencing. Often, a simple adjustment is all that is necessary. Please don’t wait until your completion visit to let us know your tooth has been uncomfortable. Waiting may complicate your treatment.
If your temporary comes off before it should, it is very important that we re-cement it as soon as possible. Without its continued placement, the teeth may shift causing the permanent crown not to fit properly, requiring additional treatment and possibly additional charges. There is no charge to re-cement a temporary crown. If you are unable to come in the same day the temporary comes off, you can follow the instructions on the back page to temporarily secure it.