THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY
- Avoid eating and drinking for 2-3 hours
- Vigorous mouth rinsing and/or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
- Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anaesthetic becoming diminished.
- Severe pain following surgery is unusual and relief can be obtained by taking Co-Codamol regularly as prescribed
- Take 400mg of Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours along with the Co-Codamol if required, unless your doctor has directed you otherwise.
- Eat before taking your pain medication.
- Restrict your activities the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
- Apply ice packs to the affected area(s) (20 minutes on/20 minutes off)
- Cold/cool drinks and soft foods are best today to reduce swelling. You may eat once you’re home. (Suggestions: ice cream/milkshakes, Jell-O, pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, canned fruit, Ensure, avocado, banana, cut up popsicles and protein shakes)
- If you had general anaesthesia/IV sedation, remember:
* Do not operate/drive any vehicle or machinery for 24 hours following surgery.
*Do not make any major or personal decisions or enter into any legal agreements for at least 24 hours following surgery.
AFTER 24 HOURS
- Rinse with warm salt water 4 times per day (1/2 teaspoon of salt in tumbler of water).
- Resume brushing your teeth, being careful to avoid surgical sites for 3-4 days.
- Begin eating warm, soft foods. Keep your diet soft for about 1 week. (Suggestions: scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta/ravioli, soups, cooked vegetables, oatmeal, pancakes, meatloaf, quiche, macaroni and cheese and spaghetti).
- Avoid hard foods that can get stuck in extractions sites (nuts, chips, popcorn) for 2 weeks.
