After Your Treatment

After a tooth extraction or wisdom tooth surgery

The first day matters most. The blood clot in the socket is what heals the wound, and most of the advice below exists to keep that clot in place.

1. Bite on the gauze for 1–2 hours and swallow normally. After 2 hours, remove the gauze. If there is still blood seeping from the wound, use a clean gauze to bite on it again for about 1 hour.
2. Apply ice packs to your face for the first 24–48 hours. Alternate 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, to minimise swelling and discomfort.
3. Eat soft foods. After meals you can rinse gently with water for the first 3 days, and then rinse normally.
4. Take painkillers 1–2 hours after the extraction, before the anaesthetic wears off. The pain is usually tolerable for 6–12 hours after a tooth extraction.
5. Brush your teeth as usual.
6. Stitches can be removed 5–7 days after the extraction, in cases where stitches are required.
7. In case of a perforated sinus, avoid rinsing vigorously. If you cough or sneeze, open your mouth wide to reduce pressure. Avoid blowing your nose — just pat it dry — and avoid swimming for 2 months.
8. If any problems or complications occur, call us and make an appointment to come back.

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After implant surgery

Swelling and bruising usually peak two to three days after surgery and settle on their own. Most of what follows is about protecting the site while that happens.

1. Cold drinks only until the anaesthetic has worn off, and do not eat before then. Avoid hot drinks and hot food for the first couple of days, and do not swill liquid over the area.
2. Do not disturb the area with your tongue or fingers.
3. Soft food and a high-protein diet for the first week will help the healing process.
4. No strenuous exercise for the first week after surgery, including running and the gym.
5. Some swelling or bruising is normal. It usually peaks 2–3 days later and subsides naturally after a few days. Ice packs help: hold one against the cheek for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time, with 20-minute breaks. After 24 hours, gentle heat is more beneficial. Sleeping propped up on 2–3 pillows also helps.
6. Pain should not be a big problem. You may be sore for a few days, and simple painkillers manage it easily. Take them regularly at the maximum stated dose for the first 2–3 days, and take the first dose before the local anaesthetic has completely worn off. Ibuprofen and paracetamol together work well for most people.
7. If pain and swelling increase after a few days, come back as soon as possible. That is how we make sure an infection is not developing.
8. If you wear a denture over the surgical area, wear it as little as possible for the first week, and always leave it out at night.
9. The stitches dissolve, but often stay in place for around 2–3 weeks. If they are uncomfortable or annoying, contact us and we will remove them.
10. Minor bleeding is normal. If it persists, sit upright and bite firmly on a dampened gauze swab or clean handkerchief over the area for 60 minutes. Do not keep checking or changing the gauze. If bleeding continues after that, contact us.
11. If you have been given antibiotics, finish the course.
12. After a sinus lift, do not blow your nose. Sneeze with your mouth open, and avoid straws for a while, so the bone graft is not dislodged.

Download the printed sheet (PDF) →

After root canal treatment

The treated tooth is closed with a temporary filling between visits. Most of this advice is about protecting it until the permanent restoration is in place.

1. Take medications as directed. The dentist may prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics to reduce discomfort and prevent infection.
2. Stick to a soft diet. Avoid hard, crunchy or chewy foods, and hot and cold foods that irritate the treated area. This protects the tooth and prevents accidental damage.
3. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Both interfere with healing and delay recovery.
4. If the temporary filling comes out, contact us right away. After the first visit the dentist closes the canal with a white temporary filling. It needs to stay in place.
5. Keep up your usual brushing and flossing. It prevents infection and helps the tooth heal properly.
6. Come to your follow-up appointments. They let the dentist check that healing is going as it should, and deal with anything that is not.

Download the printed sheet (PDF) →

After teeth whitening

For the first day or two the enamel takes up colour more easily than usual, and some sensitivity is normal. Both settle.

1. Avoid staining food and drink for at least 48 hours. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, dark-coloured fruit and vegetables, and acidic food. Many people keep to a "white diet" for a week or two.
2. Keep up good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day, floss regularly, and use a whitening toothpaste.
3. Drink water, and use a straw for other drinks to keep them off the teeth.
4. Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours — or stop altogether.
5. Go easy on very hot and very cold things. Whitening can make teeth temporarily more sensitive, particularly to hot and cold. It is usually mild and passes soon after treatment.
6. Gum irritation settles after a few days. It can happen where the gel has touched the gum or where the trays do not fit well.
7. Take a painkiller if you need one. Over-the-counter ibuprofen or paracetamol helps with sensitivity after whitening.
8. If sensitivity is severe or does not go away, contact us. There are other things we can do about it.

Download the printed sheet (PDF) →

When to call us instead of waiting

Call 091-859-9292 if bleeding does not stop after an hour of firm pressure, if pain and swelling are getting worse after the third day rather than better, if you have a fever, or if a temporary filling or a dressing comes out.

We are open every day, 10:00–19:00. Outside those hours, message us on LINE or WhatsApp with a photo and we will answer as soon as the clinic opens — and tell you if you should not wait that long.