Home Instructions

Caring for Your Smile After Dental Treatment

What you do after a dental procedure can play an important role in your comfort and recovery. The information below provides general guidance following several common treatments at Foley Family Dentistry.

Your individual needs may be different, so always follow the specific instructions we give you at your appointment. If your instructions differ from the information on this page, follow the instructions provided by your dental team.

And if something does not feel right, please call us. We would much rather answer your question than have you worry at home.

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After Cosmetic Dental Procedures or Composite Fillings

While You Are Still Numb

If local anesthetic was used during your procedure, your lips, cheeks, or tongue may remain numb for several hours.

Avoid chewing until normal sensation has returned so you do not accidentally bite your lip, cheek, or tongue. Be especially careful with hot foods and beverages while you are numb because it may be difficult to judge temperature accurately.

Sensitivity After Treatment

Some temporary sensitivity to temperature or pressure can occur after a tooth has been treated. Your gums may also feel tender, depending on the procedure.

Sensitivity should generally improve as the tooth and surrounding tissues settle. A toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth may be helpful if we recommend one for you.

If sensitivity is severe, gets worse instead of better, or continues longer than expected, please contact us so we can evaluate the tooth.

Does Your Bite Feel Different?

A new filling or cosmetic restoration can initially feel different in your mouth. However, your teeth should come together comfortably.

If one tooth feels as though it touches before the others, your bite feels uneven, or you experience discomfort when chewing, please let us know. A small adjustment may be all that is needed.

Caring for Your New Dental Work

Good daily oral hygiene remains important after restorative or cosmetic dental treatment. Brush your teeth thoroughly, clean between them every day, and continue with your recommended professional cleanings and examinations.

Dental restorations are designed for everyday use, but they are not indestructible. Avoid chewing ice, biting your fingernails, using your teeth to open objects, or regularly chewing extremely hard foods that could damage either natural teeth or restorations.

If you grind or clench your teeth and have been provided with a nightguard, wear it as directed. If you participate in activities where your teeth may be at risk of injury, ask us whether a custom mouthguard would be appropriate.

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges may require more than one appointment. If a temporary restoration is placed while your final crown or bridge is being made, it is important to protect it until your next visit.

Caring for a Temporary Crown or Bridge

Temporary restorations are not designed to be as durable as the final restoration. While wearing one:

  • Avoid chewing gum and particularly sticky foods around the temporary restoration
  • Be cautious with very hard foods
  • Brush the area carefully
  • Follow our instructions for flossing around the temporary restoration
  • Do not pick at or attempt to adjust the temporary yourself

If your temporary crown or bridge becomes loose, breaks, or comes off, please call our office. If possible, keep the restoration so we can evaluate whether it can be replaced or recemented.

Sensitivity After Crown or Bridge Treatment

Some temporary sensitivity or tenderness may occur after the tooth has been prepared or after a restoration is placed.

Let us know if you develop persistent or increasing pain, swelling, significant sensitivity, or discomfort when biting. You should also contact us if your bite feels uneven after your final crown or bridge has been placed.

Caring for Your Final Restoration

Once your final crown or bridge is in place, good home care helps protect both the restoration and the natural teeth supporting it.

Continue brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. If you have a bridge, we can show you how to clean underneath the replacement tooth using floss threaders, specialized floss, interdental brushes, a water flosser, or another method appropriate for your restoration.

After a Tooth Extraction

After a tooth is removed, a blood clot forms in the socket and plays an important role in the early stages of healing. Protecting that area is one of the most important things you can do after an extraction.

Controlling Bleeding

Some oozing after an extraction is normal. Because even a small amount of blood can look like much more when mixed with saliva, do not be alarmed by minor blood-tinged saliva.

If we provide gauze, place it over the extraction site and bite down with steady pressure for the amount of time we recommend. Replace it as directed if necessary.

If you experience heavy bleeding that does not improve with firm pressure, contact our office.

Protecting the Blood Clot

Avoid activities that can create suction, pressure, or unnecessary irritation around the extraction site during the early healing period.

Follow the instructions we provide regarding:

  • Rinsing your mouth
  • Drinking through straws
  • Brushing and flossing near the extraction site
  • Smoking or using tobacco
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Physical activity and exercise

Do not vigorously rinse, spit, probe the socket with your tongue or fingers, or otherwise disturb the extraction site.

Eating and Drinking After an Extraction

Stay well hydrated and choose soft foods that are comfortable to eat during the initial healing period. Avoid chewing directly over the extraction site.

As healing progresses and you feel comfortable, you can gradually return to your usual diet according to the instructions we provide.

Avoid very hot foods and beverages while your mouth is still numb.

Swelling and Discomfort

Some soreness and swelling can occur after an extraction. The amount varies depending on the tooth removed, the complexity of the procedure, and your individual response to treatment.

We will give you instructions for managing discomfort and swelling based on your procedure and medical history. Take any prescribed or recommended medication exactly as directed.

If antibiotics are prescribed, take them according to the instructions provided. Antibiotics are not necessary after every tooth extraction and will be prescribed only when appropriate.

Keeping Your Mouth Clean

Good oral hygiene remains important while your extraction site heals, but you will need to be gentle around the surgical area.

Continue cleaning the rest of your mouth, and follow our instructions about when and how to begin brushing, flossing, or rinsing near the extraction site. Keeping your mouth clean without disturbing the healing area can help support a healthy recovery.

When Should You Call Us?

Recovery is different for every patient, but certain changes deserve attention. Contact Foley Family Dentistry if you experience:

  • Bleeding that is heavy or difficult to control
  • Severe pain or pain that becomes significantly worse
  • Swelling that continues to increase or concerns you
  • Fever or other signs that may indicate infection
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • A reaction to medication
  • A temporary crown or bridge that becomes loose, breaks, or comes off
  • A bite that feels significantly uneven after restorative treatment
  • Any symptom or change that you are unsure about

For difficulty breathing, severe swelling affecting your airway, uncontrolled bleeding, or another potentially life-threatening emergency, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Questions During Your Recovery? Please Ask

Instructions can help you know what to expect, but they cannot account for every patient or every procedure. Your individual post-treatment instructions should always guide your recovery.

If you are uncertain whether something you are experiencing is normal, please contact us. We are here to answer your questions and help you feel confident caring for your smile at home.

Call for more information or to schedule an appointment with Foley Family Dentistry in Foley, AL.

Call (251) 257-7009