Post-Procedure & Dental Care Instructions

Initial sensations

When you first begin to wear your dentures, they may feel loose. They may move around when you chew, which can allow food or liquid to pass under them. It can take some time to learn how to keep the dentures in place. The dentures will likely feel bulky no matter how thin they are compared to when you didn’t have dentures.

They may make your tongue feel crowded or may cause a slight gagging sensation. Until your gum ridges are used to the dentures, your mouth may feel sore or irritated. Your saliva flow may also increase temporarily.

After a few weeks, as your oral tissues get used to wearing dentures, these problems should decrease. You should see your dentist if you continue to experience irritation or excessive soreness in any area. It is normal to have your dentures adjusted several times at the beginning.

Appearance

When you first get dentures, your facial expression may seem different. Dentures may improve your appearance by changing the shape of your face, and reducing facial creases. Over time, the muscles of your cheeks and lips will get used to the dentures.

Eating

It is best to eat soft foods when you are first learning to use your dentures. Cut your food into small pieces and chew slowly on both sides with your back teeth to keep your dentures from tipping. After a few days or weeks, try harder foods until you are able to eat a more normal diet. Avoid eating sticky or very hard foods until you have mastered wearing your dentures. Learning to chew with dentures takes practice!

Speaking

Wearing dentures can make a difference in the way you pronounce certain words. To help overcome any speech difficulties, practice reading aloud. If the denture teeth click together when you talk, speak more slowly. Bring any problems to the attention of your dentist.

At first, you may find that your dentures become loose when you laugh, or cough, or even smile. To reposition them, close your teeth together gently and swallow.

When to wear dentures

Follow your dentist’s advice on how long you should wear your dentures each day.

You should always take your dentures out before bed at night, and put them back in the morning. This gives your mouth a chance to rest and helps maintain oral health.

Caring for your mouth

You still need to take care of your mouth when you have dentures. It is important to brush your gums, tongue and palate with a soft-bristled brush before you wear your dentures. This will remove plaque or pieces of food.

Visit your dentist yearly (even if you no longer have any natural teeth) for a complete oral examination. Besides checking your dentures, the dentist will check for signs of oral cancer, and examine your gum ridges, tongue, palate and jaw joints (TMJ).

Caring for your dentures

For a healthy mouth and fresh breath, make sure to clean your dentures daily. This also helps keep the dentures from becoming permanently stained.

Dentures should be handled carefully! Dropping them (even a few inches into a sink) can break the denture base or a tooth. When cleaning or inserting your dentures, hold them over a towel or a sink half-filled with water. And always keep your dentures out of reach of children and pets.

Before brushing your dentures, rinse them well. Next, apply your favorite denture cleaner to a moistened brush and clean all surfaces of the dentures. Brush thoroughly but carefully. Scrubbing too hard can damage the plastic parts of the denture or bend metal clasps.

Many special denture-cleaning agents are available (ask your dentist about them). Follow their instructions carefully. Some people prefer to use hand soap, a mild dishwashing liquid or baking soda. Household cleaners and some toothpastes should not be used because they are too abrasive. Never use bleach on your dentures!

It is best to use a brush designed to clean dentures. A regular soft-bristled brush is a good alternative. Brushes with stiff bristles can damage the plastic denture material.

Your dentures may change shape if your dentures become dry. So place them in a container of denture-cleaning solution or water when you take your dentures out at night. Never put dentures in hot water because they can change shape.

Denture care instructions

For questions, please call (617) 432-1434 and follow the prompts. 

1. A little bit of pain after root canal surgery is normal. Start pain medications BEFORE your anesthesia wears off. Start with Ibuprofen (such as Advil) 600 milligrams every six hours or 800 milligrams every eight hours unless your doctor says not to take Ibuprofen. Do not use Aspirin. If you cannot take Ibuprofen, taking two acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) every 6 hours works too.
2. If an antibiotic is prescribed, make sure to take all of it and/or follow your dentist’s instructions. Antibiotics could stop birth control pills from working well. Please consult your physician if you have concerns.
3. Do not lift or pull the lip to look at the surgical area because touching it repeatedly could slow healing and you could tear your stitches.
4. There might be some swelling and bruising which will be at its worst around 48-96 hours after surgery. To help with the swelling, gently put an ice pack over the surgical area. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for around 3-4 hours. Make sure not to use ice over 6 hours. Do not fall asleep with ice on your face.
5. Eating enough food and drinking enough water after surgery are the most important things to help the area get better faster. Do not eat crunchy foods or drink hot liquids in the first 3 days which could bother the surgical site.
6. Starting tomorrow, rinse gently with warm salt water (mix one teaspoon of salt into one glass of warm water) after meals and at bedtime or use the prescribed mouth rinse. This will help with cleaning and healing of the surgical site. You can keep brushing and flossing normally everywhere except next to the surgical site.
7. Do not smoke for the first 24 hours following surgery.
8. A little oozing or bleeding is normal for the first week. If the surgical area keeps bleeding for more than two days, please call us.
9. If you have anything you are worried about, please call your doctor any hour of the day or night. 

Local care

1. Bite on the gauze for 30 minutes. Change the gauze 30 minutes later. The gauze will be stained with blood when you remove it. That is not due to active bleeding, but due to the gauze’s ability to absorb blood. If your mouth is filling up with blood after removing the second gauze, place the gauze on the socket site and apply more pressure. If that does not stop the bleeding, wrap a moistened tea bag in gauze, and bite on it for 30 minutes. If there’s still a lot of bleeding, call the Harvard Dental Center at (617) 432-1434 option #2.
2. Do not rinse out your mouth or spit today. That causes more bleeding. Instead, lean over a sink or cup, and let the saliva drip out of your mouth without force.
3. Avoid foods or activities that create suction in the mouth (e.g., straws, rinsing, spitting, etc).
4. Avoid thermally hot foods (e.g., coffee, tea, soup). Let them cool before eating today. On the day of surgery, most people find cool, soft foods (ice cream, yogurt) soothing. Consider soups, yogurt, ice cream, puddings, eggs, omelets, soft pasta.
5. Avoid foods with a sharp edge (chips, crackers, toast etc) for 4-5 days.
6. AVOID SMOKING for a minimum of 24 hours. Smoking triples the risk of getting a painful, slow healing extraction socket called a “dry socket.”
7. Place ice to your cheek in the area of surgery. Ice is most effective if placed on the cheek for 20 minutes then removed for 20 minutes throughout the first day. Do not fall asleep with ice on face.
8. Start pain relievers BEFORE your anesthesia wears off (30-60 minutes after your appointment). Unless otherwise specified, start with Ibuprofen (such as Advil or Aleve) 600 milligrams every six hours or 800 milligrams every eight hours. Do not use Aspirin. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) 650 mg every 6 hours is a good alternative. Full doses of both ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be taken together or alternated every 3 hours. There is no bad interaction from taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen at the same time. It is much safer than taking too much of one medicine.
9. Take other medicines as prescribed. Avoid driving or drinking alcohol if given prescription pain pills.

Day after surgery

1. Gently rinse with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of warm water) 4 times a day for one week or use the mouthrinse as prescribed by your dentist.

2. Brush your teeth gently with a soft bristle brush. Be very gentle around the surgical site.

Two days after surgery

Place moist heat (a face towel in very warm, but not too hot, water or a hot water bottle) for swelling. Postoperative swelling is greatest 48-72.

Bruising

Minor bruising after surgery is a normal response and no cause for alarm. It will improve in 7-14 days. If you are concerned at all, please call our office or your dentist.

Stiffness

Some jaw muscle stiffness is common, especially after longer procedures. This is normal and will improve in 7-14 days. Moist heat and Ibuprofen will help relieve some of these symptoms.

Sutures/Stitches

Most of our stitches dissolve on their own and will not have to be removed. The stitches will fall out within the week (some even come out the same day). Do not worry if the stiches are swallowed. Never pull at loose stitches, but you can carefully cut a loose stitch at the gum line. Some stitches may last 2 weeks, depending on the type (check with your dentist before leaving your appointment).

Pain

Most pain after surgery improves by the third day. If pain or swelling increases on the fourth day or later after surgery, call the office and ask to be seen by your doctor or one of the oral surgeons who is available that day or the next day.

Oral Hygiene

Use a soft toothbrush when brushing. Place the bristles above the bracket/bands at a forty-five degree (45°) angle towards the gums. Gently brush back and forth. Then brush the chewing and back surfaces of the teeth. Repeat this process overlapping the last tooth brushed and continue around the entire mouth. You may also carefully place bristles under the wire to help remove food under the wire. Make sure the bristles are directed away from your gums when doing this.

You should brush your teeth for two minutes in the morning and at night. Patients with braces or aligners are at increased risk of cavities due to food and plaque being trapped more frequently than normal. Please follow the instructions carefully and diligently.

Flossing

Flossing with your orthodontic appliance is very hard. You may need to use floss threaders to get the floss under the wire. After you get the floss under the wire, you may floss as usual by wrapping the floss in a “C” around the side of each tooth. Remove the floss and move to the next tooth. You should floss every day.

Clear Aligners

When eating, remove the clear aligners from your mouth and place your aligners in the protective case provided by your orthodontic provider. Never place your clear aligners in a napkin as this is likely to be thrown away into the garbage or lost. Make sure to keep your aligners away from pets as they could chew the aligners. Make sure to rinse your mouth with water after eating and brush your teeth as soon as possible. Only drink clear still water (not carbonated/sparkling water) with the aligners in.

Sports

Talk to your orthodontic provider if you play any contact sports during orthodontic treatment as they may recommend a mouth guard specifically for orthodontic appliances.

Care of your orthodontic appliance

Now that you have your orthodontic appliances, you will have to change your eating habits. Below is a list of different food groups and habits you will have to avoid or be careful with.

Foods that damage your appliance:

• Popcorn
• Peanuts
• Ice Cubes
• Spareribs
• Taffy
• Corn Chips
• Chicken Legs
• Caramel
• Corn on the Cob

Foods that need to be cut into small pieces before eating:

• Apples
• Hard breads
• Steak
• Raw vegetables
• Bagels

Any foods that you would normally bite into with your front teeth need to be cut into small pieces before eating.

If you eat/drink sweets, rinse your mouth with water and brush immediately:

• Soda
• Candy
• Cakes

Habits that can damage your appliance:

• Chewing on pencils/pens
• Biting on fingernails
• Pulling or picking at your appliance
• Rocking the headgear or lip bumper up and down

Damaged Appliance

A bracket or band may loosen, or a wire may break. It is important that you call us immediately if anything breaks or feels different.

You have been given wax that you may place over any irritating area until you come in to be checked. If you have a loose band, stop wearing your elastics.

Diet

Eat a soft diet such as pasta, meatloaf, fish, chicken, cooked vegetables, eggs, smoothies, or yogurt. Avoid crunchy foods such as hard breakfast cereal, hard crusted bread, raw vegetables, chips, popcorn, or nuts. Chew on the opposite side of the surgery and cut your food up into up into small pieces.

Medication

Continue taking any medications that you started before your surgery such as antibiotics or systemic steroids as instructed. Make sure to finish all the antibiotics that might be prescribed for you. It is recommended that you take a probiotic supplement when taking antibiotics. Please call the office to report any allergic reactions to any prescribed drug.

Discomfort

You may feel uncomfortable when the anesthesia wears off. Some discomfort after surgery is normal. Start to take pain medication BEFORE the anesthesia wears off (30-60 minutes after your appointment). Instead of taking narcotic medication such as Vicodin, you may take 2 tablets of Advil (Ibuprofen 200 mg each tablet) and 2 tablets of Tylenol (Acetaminophen) regular or extra strength every 4-6 hours. This combination has pain relief similar to a narcotic without the negative side effects of nausea, dizziness, and constipation.

Swelling

Swelling may occur and is normal. To lessen swelling during the first 48 hours, place an ice pack over the area for 20 minutes, then remove the ice for another 20 minutes. Repeat for 2-3 hours. After the first 48 hours, warm compresses (such as a warm, damp towel) will help lessen swelling.

Bleeding

Small amounts of blood may turn your saliva red for several hours. This is normal. Do not actively spit or rinse your mouth during the first 24-48 hours after surgery. Lean your head over a sink or cup, and let gravity pull the saliva out of your mouth. If persistent oozing occurs, firmly press a moistened tea bag over the area for 5-10 minutes.

Cleanliness

Do not brush anywhere in or near the surgical sites until you see your doctor for your follow-up visit. However, other areas of the mouth should be cleaned as usual. Take care not to stretch your cheeks near the surgical site as this might pull on the sutures. If you have been given a prescription for antiseptic mouthwash, start using it the morning after surgery and use it twice a day.

Sutures/stitches

Do not tug or remove your stitches. Follow your doctor’s orders for your post-operative visits.

Dressing

The dentist may have placed a bandage around your teeth and gums called a dressing. The dressing protects the area during healing. Over time, this will become brittle and small pieces may break away. This is not an emergency and you will not need to have it replaced. Do not pull on the sutures if the dressing is lost. If the dressing is still in place at your follow-up visit, we usually remove it at that time.

No Smoking

Smoking will substantially reduce the healing and success of the surgery. Suction created when inhaling cigarettes can disturb the wound site and in the case of tooth extraction, the newly formed clot can dislodge. Smokers are at a greater risk of developing a painful dry socket.

In case of extreme pain, swelling, or bleeding, call your dentist or call the Harvard Dental Center at (617) 432-1434.

If you have an emergency after business hours, this phone number will connect you to the doctor on call.

Pre-sedation instructions

Do not eat or drink for 8 hours before your appointment. If you eat or drink during the 8 hours before your appointment, we may need to cancel or reschedule your procedure.

If you take any medications by mouth in the morning, you can take these medications with sips of water the morning of the procedure.

Do not smoke for 12 hours (minimum) before your ap­pointment. Be sure to discuss your smoking habits with your dentist to improve the results of your surgery. The evidence that smoking affects oral healing is well established.

Wear loose-fitting clothing with sleeves that can be rolled up past the elbow. Wear comfortable shoes.

Remove all nail polish from an index finger or thumb.

An escort, a responsible adult, must:

• Come with you to the clinic
• Wait for you while you have your procedure
• Receive the post-operative instructions
• Bring you home to waiting care providers or the escort needs to stay with you for four hours.

Do not attempt to be the sole caregiver to babies or young children on the day of your sedation. Do not drive or use heavy or dangerous machinery on the day of your sedation. Our modern drugs are quite short-acting, but it is not worth putting yourself or anyone else at risk.

If you use cannabis or other recreational drugs, please let the staff know. Anything disclosed will be confidential. We just need to know what medications are in your body BEFORE we add our IV medications.

If you feel sick (fever, muscle aches, runny nose, cough, sore throat, stomachache) please tell us.

If there is a chance you may be pregnant, please let your provider know.

Post-sedation instructions

Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours after the procedure.

Do not drive a vehicle or do anything that requires judgment until the morning after the procedure. If you are placed on an opioid (e.g., Percocet, Vicodin, Codeine, Oxycodone) after surgery, you cannot drive while on the opioid.

Your diet will be guided by the type of dental, periodontal, or oral surgery that you had. From the standpoint of the sedation, however, go slow. Keep well hydrated, but start with small amounts of food. You may feel hungry at first and then feel sick after having too big or too fast a meal. Ginger ale and ginger candies are good for any nausea.

Sleep with your head elevated in a recliner or with pillows. This helps both swelling and discomfort.

Get plenty of rest.