Post Operative Care & Instructions
Please call with questions or concerns that may arise.
Caring For The Mouth After Local Anesthetic
If the procedure was in the lower jaw, the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep. If the procedure was in the upper jaw, the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia. They may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the lip, tongue, or cheek because it is numb. These actions may cause minor irritations or they may be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for approximately two to three hours following the appointment. It is often wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.
The following pictures are of Kimberly who bit her lip after anesthesia. Kimberly’s mother called the office the next day regarding this issue. Mom was surprised this occurred because she watched Kimberly very carefully. Although this is a rare occurrence, lip biting does happen. Unfortunately, no matter how well parents watch their child, it only takes a second to bite a lip. We would like to express our thanks to Kimberly and her mom who took photos for us, so that we could show other children and parents the trauma that can occur due to biting a numb lip. Kimberly healed in a few days and received extra presents from our office for being such a great model for other kids.
Caring For The Mouth After Extractions
Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. The children should be watched closely so they do not injure their lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.
Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
Do not spit excessively.
Do not drink carbonated beverages, such as Coke, Sprite, etc. for the remainder of the day.
Do not drink through a straw. The sucking action may remove the clot.
Avoid acidic and salty foods and beverages which may cause sensitivity to the extraction area.
Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area as this can bring bacteria and germs to the area.
Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary. Sometimes saliva mixes with a little blood and gives the illusion of more bleeding than there actually is occurring.
Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally.
Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity after the day of the extraction.
For discomfort, use Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the bottle.
Voted Best Dentist by
Westchester Magazine
HOME > SERVICES > AFTER CARE
Post Operative Care & Instructions
Please call with questions or concerns that may arise.
Caring For The Mouth After Local Anesthetic
If the procedure was in the lower jaw, the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep. If the procedure was in the upper jaw, the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia. They may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the lip, tongue, or cheek because it is numb. These actions may cause minor irritations or they may be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for approximately two to three hours following the appointment. It is often wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.
The following pictures are of Kimberly who bit her lip after anesthesia. Kimberly’s mother called the office the next day regarding this issue. Mom was surprised this occurred because she watched Kimberly very carefully. Although this is a rare occurrence, lip biting does happen. Unfortunately, no matter how well parents watch their child, it only takes a second to bite a lip. We would like to express our thanks to Kimberly and her mom who took photos for us, so that we could show other children and parents the trauma that can occur due to biting a numb lip. Kimberly healed in a few days and received extra presents from our office for being such a great model for other kids.
Caring For The Mouth After Extractions
Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. The children should be watched closely so they do not injure their lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.
Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
Do not spit excessively.
Do not drink carbonated beverages, such as Coke, Sprite, etc. for the remainder of the day.
Do not drink through a straw. The sucking action may remove the clot.
Avoid acidic and salty foods and beverages which may cause sensitivity to the extraction area.
Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area as this can bring bacteria and germs to the area.
Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary. Sometimes saliva mixes with a little blood and gives the illusion of more bleeding than there actually is occurring.
Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally.
Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity after the day of the extraction.
For discomfort, use Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the bottle.
Voted Best Dentist by
Westchester Magazine