Aftercare: what to do after your treatment

• Keep gentle pressure on the gauze pad for 30–60 minutes after you leave, and rest for the remainder of the day.
• Don't rinse, spit forcefully, or drink through a straw for the first 24 hours — this protects the blood clot that starts the healing.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 48 hours; both slow healing and increase the risk of complications.
• Stick to soft, cool foods for the first day and chew on the other side of your mouth.
• From the day after the extraction, rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) after meals for about a week.
• Some discomfort and minor oozing is normal. Over-the-counter pain relief can help — your dentist or pharmacist can advise what suits you.

Call us if: bleeding is heavy or won't stop with pressure, pain gets significantly worse 2–4 days after the extraction (this can be a sign of dry socket), or you develop swelling that keeps increasing, fever, or difficulty swallowing.

• Follow all the extraction advice above — it applies here too.
• Expect swelling to peak around days 2–3 before settling. A cold pack against your cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) during the first 24 hours helps limit it.
• Jaw stiffness and difficulty opening wide for several days is common — soft foods and gentle jaw movement help.
• Bruising on the cheek or jaw can appear and is usually nothing to worry about.

Call us if: swelling is still increasing after day 3, you have trouble swallowing or breathing, pain isn't controlled by the pain relief discussed with you, or you notice a bad taste or discharge that doesn't settle.

• If local anaesthetic was used, avoid hot drinks and be careful chewing until the numbness fully wears off (usually 1–3 hours) so you don't bite your cheek, lip or tongue.
• Modern fillings set immediately, so you can usually eat as soon as the numbness is gone — chew gently on that side at first.
• Mild sensitivity to hot, cold or pressure for a few days (occasionally a few weeks) is common and usually settles on its own.

Call us if: your bite feels "high" or uneven once the numbness wears off (a quick, simple adjustment fixes this), sensitivity is getting worse instead of better, or you feel a sharp pain when biting.

• If you have a temporary crown or bridge, avoid sticky or chewy foods (they can pull it off) and hard foods on that side until the final one is fitted.
• When flossing around a temporary, slide the floss out sideways rather than pulling it back up, so you don't dislodge it.
• Some sensitivity and gum tenderness around a new crown or bridge is normal for a few days.
• Once your final crown or bridge is cemented, care for it like a natural tooth — brushing twice daily and cleaning between teeth keeps the margins healthy.

Call us if: a temporary comes off (keep it and call us — don't glue it yourself), your bite feels uneven after a day or two, or sensitivity persists beyond a couple of weeks.

• Tenderness around the tooth for a few days is normal, especially when chewing — the tissues around the root need time to settle.
• Avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth until your final restoration (usually a filling or crown) is in place, as the tooth can be more brittle in the meantime.
• Over-the-counter pain relief is usually enough for the first day or two — your dentist or pharmacist can advise what suits you.
• Attend your follow-up appointment for the final restoration — it protects the tooth and completes the treatment.

Call us if: you develop visible swelling, the pain is severe or getting worse after a few days, your bite feels uneven, or the temporary filling comes out.

• Don't disturb the implant site — avoid touching it with your tongue or fingers, and don't rinse vigorously on the first day.
• Use a cold pack against your cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) during the first 24 hours to limit swelling.
• Stick to soft, cool foods for the first few days and avoid chewing directly over the implant site.
• Avoid smoking — it significantly affects how well implants heal and integrate.
• From the day after surgery, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals, and follow any specific cleaning instructions we give you.

Call us if: bleeding doesn't settle with gentle pressure, swelling or pain keeps increasing after day 3, you develop a fever, or anything about the implant site concerns you. Implant aftercare is tailored to each case, so always follow the specific instructions from your appointment first.