Post-operative care instructions
Post-operative care instructions after a Laser Periodontal Surgery procedure by Dr. Miriam Ting.
1. Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of gum tissue following laser therapy. Gum tissue can turn gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, and “stringy” and reflects a normal response to laser treatments.
2. Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the treated area.
3. Do not be alarmed if one of the following occurs:
a. Light bleeding
b. Slight swelling
c. Some soreness, tenderness, or tooth sensitivity
d. Medicinal taste, from Peridex or Perioguard
4. Swelling may possibly occur. To keep this at a minimum, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue using the ice bag beyond the day of the periodontal surgery.
5. Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. Determine the side of oozing and place pressure on this area. If you cannot locate the origin of the bleeding, rinse your mouth gently with iced water and apply a wet tea bag to the general area.
6. Please call the office so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
a. Prolonged or severe pain
b. Prolonged or excessive bleeding
c. Considerably elevated or persistent temperature ( Fever )
d. Sores on the roof of your mouth ( Blisters )
7. If medication has been prescribed, please take exactly as directed. Antibiotic pills are prescribed. The entire bottle or prescription should be taken for the stated number of days or weeks. If you are not allergic to Motrin – Generic Ibuprofen- (eg. Advil, Nuprin), we will most likely prescribe it primarily to minimize tissue swelling, and local inflammation that is a natural side effect of minor surgery. Ibuprofen is also good to reduce post-operative pain and sensitivity. Ibuprofen is non-narcotic and does not affect your ability to drive. Never place aspirin directly on the tissue of a painful area.
8. Reduce physical activity for several hours following the surgery to maximize healing.
9. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible in order to help the healing process. Only brush and floss the untreated area of your mouth. Brush or floss the treated area for 7-10 days or as directed by your doctor.
10. You may spit, and gently rinse your mouth the day of treatment. Rinse your mouth gently 3 times a day with antimicrobial mouthwass. In between rinses, rinse your mouth gently 3 times a day with warm saltwater (1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8oz. glass of warm water). For the next several days rinse with both antimicrobial mouthwash and salt water as previously mentioned but with vigor.
11. You will be on a liquid diet for 3 days, then a diet of “mushy”/soft foods for 4 days, and then a diet of smart food choices for the remainder of the month. It is very important to maintain a good food and fluid intake. Try to eat soft but nutritious food such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, malts, ice cream, etc., until you can comfortably return to a normal diet. Please refer to the Post Laser Surgery Treatment Diet Instructions.
12. Avoid spicy or excessively hot foods during the initial 3 day liquid diet period.
13. When eating do not chew on the side of your mouth which has been treated.
14. Do not be alarmed that beginning with just 2 weeks after therapy and extending as long as 1 year or more, the teeth may become sore and tender as the bone and ligaments around the teeth regenerate and become more firm. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of a bite imbalance that may need to be adjusted.
15. “Spaces” between your teeth can result from reduction of inflammation, swelling, and the removal of diseased tissue after the Laser Surgery treatment. These spaces usually fill in over time, and again, bite adjustment is critical to making sure the teeth and the “papilla” is not traumatized and can regrow.
16. After you complete the program you will be provided with a list of dentists that are collaborating with us and are familiar with the PerioLase laser and the Laser Surgery treatment follow up care for perio maintenance visits. This is extremely important to preserve the work that has been done.
• The first three days following Laser Therapy, follow only a liquid- like diet to allow healing. Anything that could be put into a blender to drink is ideal. The purpose of this is to protect the clot that is acting as a “band-aid” between the gums and the teeth. Do not drink through a straw, as this creates a vacuum in your mouth that can disturb the “band-aid”. Take daily vitamins.
• Next four days after treatment, foods with a “mushy” consistency such as those listed below are recommended.*see below
• Starting seven to ten days after treatment, soft foods may be allowable. The time to start on soft foods is dependent upon the loss of the white material that appeared around your teeth following Laser Surgery treatment. You were introduced to this material by your doctor or doctor’s assistant during your follow-up visit immediately following your initial treatment session. It was explained to you that you must leave this material alone until it naturally heals and disappears. Once the white material has disappeared, then soft foods can be introduced. Soft foods have the consistency of pasta, fish, chicken or steamed vegetables. You may then, gradually add back your regular diet choices.
• Please remember that even after ten days, healing is not complete. The first month following treatment you should continue to make smart food choices. Softer foods are better.
• DAILY VITAMINS!
• Anything put through a food blender
• Cream of wheat, Oatmeal, Malt O Meal
• Mashed Avocado, Applesauce
• Mashed Potatoes or Baked Potatoes – OK with butter/sour cream
• Mashed Banana or any mashed/blended fruit except berries with seeds
• Broth or Creamed Soup
• Mashed steamed vegetables
• Mashed Yams, Baked Sweet Potato or Butternut squash
• Cottage cheese Cream or Soft cheese
• Creamy peanut butter without solid pieces
• Eggs any style, with or without melted cheese
• Omelets can have cheese and avocado
• Jell-O, Pudding, Ice Cream, Yogurt
• Milk shake/smoothies – DO NOT blend with berries containing seeds
• Ensure, Slim Fast -nutritional drinks
Chew gum, candy, cookies, chips, nuts, anything hard or crunchy, anything that has seeds or hard pieces, meat that shreds and can lodge under the gum and between teeth, raw vegetables/salad.
Tobacco has a very large effect on your gums and the disease you have in them. Tobacco is associated with an increased disease rate in terms of loss of the bone and gums that are holding your teeth in, as well as an increase in the space between the gums and teeth. Tobacco is a major factor for chronic gum disease.
Any type of smoking and/or chewing tobacco will have an adverse effect on the progress of your healing and may cause the gum disease to re-occur after treatment. If you are a smoker or chew tobacco we highly recommend not to do so while you are healing or anytime after that.