After the Removal of Multiple Teeth

Home Instructions After the Removal of Multiple Teeth

A small amount of bleeding is to be expected following the removal of multiple teeth. If bleeding occurs, place a gauze pad directly over the bleeding socket and apply biting pressure for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened caffeinated black tea bag for thirty minutes. The caffeine & tannic acid in the black tea helps to form a clot by contracting blood vessels. If bleeding occurs, avoid hot liquids, exercise, and keep your head elevated. If bleeding persists, call our office immediately. Do not remove the immediate denture or appliance (if applicable) unless the bleeding is severe. Expect some oozing around the edges of the surgical site or appliance. 

Avoid Vigorous Rinsing: Do not rinse your mouth vigorously or touch the surgical area. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged. Do NOT SWISH LIQUIDS OR RINSE WITH ANY PRESSURE AT ALL FOR 1 WEEK AFTER SURGERY. Instead, roll warm salt water back & forth with your mouth open and your head tilted back, then lean over the sink to allow the water to fall out of your mouth, then dry your mouth with a towel…do not spit.

Swelling is a normal response to surgery and is usually proportional to the extent of the procedure. You can expect swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of the face. This swelling will typically become noticeable the day after surgery and will peak 2-3 days post-operation. To minimize swelling, apply ice packs or frozen unopened peas or corn immediately after surgery. Ice packs should be placed on the sides of your face where the surgery was performed and should be alternated on for 20 minutes then off for 10 minutes continually while awake for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, ice no longer provides any benefit. If swelling or jaw stiffness persists for several days, there is no cause for concern—this is a typical part of the healing process. After 24 hours, applying moist heat to the sides of your face can help reduce swelling. Take Pain Medications as prescribed. If you choose to take narcotic pain medication do not operate machinery or drive a motor vehicle for 8 hours. 

For mild discomfort, use aspirin, Tylenol, or any similar medication—two tablets every 3-4 hours. You can also take two to three tablets of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) every 3-4 hours for pain relief.

For severe pain, take the prescription medication provided. If the pain does not begin to subside after 2 days or increases after 2 days, please call our office. If antibiotics have been prescribed, continue taking them until finished, unless you have an allergic reaction.

Drink plenty of fluids. If many teeth have been extracted, the blood lost at this time needs to be replaced, so drink at least six glasses of liquid on the first day.

Do not rinse your mouth for the first post-operative day or while there is active bleeding. After the first day, use a warm saltwater rinse every 4 hours and after meals to flush out particles of food and debris that may lodge in the surgical area. (Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water). After you have seen your dentist for a denture adjustment appointment (if applicable), remove the denture and rinse 3 to 4 times a day.

Restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods that are comfortable to eat. As the wounds heal, you can gradually return to your normal diet.

The removal of multiple teeth at once is different from the extraction of just one or two teeth. Since the bone must be shaped and smoothed prior to the insertion of a denture, the following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

• Swelling in the operated area will peak within two days. Swelling and discoloration around the eyes may occur. The application of a moist warm towel will help reduce the discoloration. Apply the towel continuously for as long as tolerable, starting 24 hours after surgery (reminder: ice packs should only be used for the first 24 hours).
• A sore throat may develop due to swelling in the muscles near the extraction sites. This is normal and should subside within 2-3 days.
• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Keep your lips moist with an ointment like Vaseline.
• A slight elevation in temperature may occur for 24-48 hours. If your temperature continues to rise, notify our office.

If immediate dentures have been inserted, sore spots may develop. In most cases, your dentist will see you within 24-48 hours after surgery to make the necessary adjustments and relieve these sore spots. If adjustments are not made, severe denture sores may develop, prolonging the healing process.