Post-Operative Instructions
SOFT DIETOur office recommends a soft diet following most surgeries, at least for the first few days, and many times for the first two weeks following more involved implant or bone grafting surgeries. A soft diet should rule out any food that makes noise when you chew, and do not put any pressure on the surgical site during chewing. Some suggestions are listed below:
Pudding, jello, yogurt, ice cream, smoothies/slurpies w/o straws or seeds, mashed potatoes and gravy, scrambled eggs and cheese, well cooked pastas, soft vegetables, soft fish, , oat meal, protein drinks (Ensure, Sustical, Meritene, Boost), anything blended, sloppy joes, scallops, canned beets, sweet potatoes, custards, canned fruit, mac n’ cheese, apple sauce, soft casseroles, cottage cheese, bananas, egg salad, tuna salad, refried beans and hummus.
PERIDEX (CHLORHEXDINE) RINSES
Even though the bottle has specific instructions for rinsing the entire mouth twice a day, if you have had an implant placed, we should have given you a small red soft toothbrush with different instructions:
-Pour a small amount of rinse into the cap and dip the toothbrush in it. Use the toothbrush to then brush the cap gently. Since the brush is so soft, it should not irritate the surround gum tissue. Don’t start brushing the area until the day after surgery and continue to do so for at least a week until you see your doctor for your post-op visit. He will then recommend when to stop and start using your normal toothbrush and toothpaste. During the time you are using the soft toothbrush on the implant cap(s), you can use your normal toothbrush and toothpaste in the other areas of your mouth.
DRY SOCKET CONCERNS
Following extractions, especially wisdom teeth, we will review several precautions to prevent a dry socket where the blood clot is lost leaving the bone in the extraction socket exposed causing pain:
For the first 2-3 days following extractions:
- Don’t suck on straws or cigarettes
- Don’t rinse vigorously
- Don’t drink a lot of hot liquids (coffee, tea, soup) or carbonated beverages.
If we placed an implant or did a bone graft, but DID NOT do an extraction, the possibility of a dry socket is extremely unlikely, so we will not insist on these same precautions. We may still recommend staying away from hot liquids so we don’t cause any bleeding, but sucking on things should not be a problem.
SALT WATER RINSES
Warm salt water rinses are recommended following surgery to help the soft tissues to heal and eliminate inflammation. We usually do not recommend them until 48 hours after surgery so the blood clots are not disturbed. Rinses are made using a normal 8oz. drinking glass filled with warm water into which a teaspoon of table salt is dissolved. The solution is placed in the mouth for 30 seconds three times a day for five days.
If you have questions, please call our office at (760) 942-1333.
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