Post dental treatment
Information
Have Post Dental Treatment Questions?
At Wellspring Esthetics, we’re here to care for your family’s dental health… before, during and after treatment! Scroll through some of our most common post dental treatment recommendations and find out more about what to expect after a tooth extraction, soft tissue procedure, or when getting new orthodontics.
Emergency Services
Our team can even provide emergency dental services if you find yourself in need of urgent dental care.
New to orthodontics?
Here are some answers to common problems and a list of problematic foods to avoid.
Common Orthodontic Problems
Discomfort:
It is normal for a patient to have discomfort for a day or two after braces are adjusted. Eating can be uncomfortable and your teeth may feel loose. This is both normal and temporary, we encourage soft foods and ibuprofen as needed.
Food caught between teeth:
This is easily fixed with a pieces of dental floss. Try tying a small knot in the middle of the floss to help remove the food or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge food caught between teeth and braces.
Ligatures come off:
Ligatures are the tiny colored rubber bands that go around each bracket. If the wire is not falling out this can wait until your next visit where we will replace all of the ligatures. If the wire falls out with less than a week until your next visit, please save the item and bring it with you to your next visit. If the wire fall out with more than a week, save the wire and please call the office so we can replace it.
Mouth sores:
If you develop a sore, avoid spicy foods, citrus based foods, and alcohol based mouthwashes. Warm salt water rinses (1 teaspoon of salt per 8 oz. of water) can help with healing. Ortho wax makes an excellent buffer between the metal and the mouth. To apply wax simply pinch off a small piece of wax and roll it into a ball, flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces that is causing the irritation.
Wire pops out:
The initial wire is very flexible. If it a portion pops out simply pop it back in or tuck it under the last hook.
Poking Wire:
As your teeth move, the wire gets longer in the back. This can become bothersome, it can be addressed by placing a piece of wax on the wire where it is poking the check/gum. If it is very bothersome just call the office for a quick appointment where we can clip the wire.
Loose brackets, wires and bands:
As long as you are not in pain, we can fix everything at your next visit. If anything falls out, please save and bring it with you to your next visit. If anything is very bothersome just call the office.
Foods that can damage braces (Avoid)
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Ice
- Beef Jerky
- Sticky candy
- Hard Candy
- Chewing on nails, pens. Bottle caps
- Using your teeth to open packages
Foods that need special treatment (Eat with care)
- Apples, carrots and other crunchy fruits/ vegetables (cut into pieces or cook to soften)
- Remove meat from bone
- Hard cookies (soften with milk)
- Cut corn off of Cob
Soft Tissue Post Op Instructions
for Adults and Children
Feel free to call, text, or email with any questions or concerns.
Maxillary (Upper) lip release:
Stretch lip upward toward nose 3x/day for 2 weeks. Patient can also run their tongue through the vestibule throughout the day. Warm salt water rinses and anti-inflammatory as needed
Mandibular (Lower) lip release:
Stretch lip downward toward chin 3x/day for 2 weeks. Patient can run the tongue through the vestibule throughout the day. Warm salt water rinses and anti-inflammatory as needed
Lingual (Tongue) release:
stretch tip of tongue up and back on palate. Younger children can also lick chocolate syrup, peanut butter, etc from a shot glass to exercise and stretch the wound. Parents/Patient will have to run their finger under the tongue from side to side and also apply downward pressure on the floor of the mouth as the child lifts the tongue up and back onto the palate. 3x/day for 2 weeks. Warm salt water and anti-inflammatory as needed.
Vitamin E oil:
Vitamin E oil can be rubbed on gingivectomies, fibroma removals, etc. but not frenectomies as this stimulates healing too quickly
Instructions Following Tooth Extraction
Feel free to call, text, or email with any questions or concerns.
- Place an ice pack over your cheek on the side of the extraction for the first 6-8 hours. Leave it on for 15 minutes then off for 15 minutes. This will help with swelling and any discomfort.
- The next 2-3 nights following the extraction sleep with an extra pillow behind your head to help keep swelling minimal.
- Hygiene: Brush and floss all your teeth as normal avoiding the teeth around the extraction site. Do not rinse your mouth with any mouth wash for the first 48 hours.
- Do not smoke, spit forcefully or use a straw for the next week. This ensures that the extraction site heals properly.
- On the morning following the surgery, rinse the mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt to a glass of warm water). Repeat 3-4 times daily until extraction site is healed.
- Keep fingers and tongue away from healing extraction site.
- Bleeding: it is normal for the saliva to be blood tinged for about 1-2 days. If abnormal bleeding occurs (anything more than saliva streaked with a little blood) place a moist piece of gauze over the extraction sit and bite down on the gauze for 30 minutes. If there is no change call the office, for further instructions. (beware you are not biting on your tongue)
- Following dental surgery it is normal to experience some discomfort. If medication has been prescribed, take as instructed.
- Swelling and stiffness: it is normal and should not be a cause of alarm. After the first 24-48 hours you can switch from cold to heat. Wet a washcloth with warm water (or use a heating pad on low) and hold over stiff/tight muscles for 15 minutes. Repeat as needed.
- Diet: a liquid or soft diet is advisable during the first 24 hours. Drink plenty of fluids
- Dry socket: dry socket usually occurs the 3rd-5th day following the extraction. It is a dull achy pain that does not go away with pain medication. If you think you have dry socket give the office a call and we will schedule a time for you to come in.
- Return to office if undue symptoms develop.