You have completed a session of periodontal treatment:
- instructions in oral hygiene consisting of effective tooth brushing and flossing
- Root planing of the teeth to remove accumulations of plaque and calculus above and below the tissues have been completed. To promote the highest level of healing and for your comfort, please follow these instructions:
- Avoid vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours.
- Avoid drinking hot liquids and eating until the anesthesia has worn off. You could burn or bite yourself and not beware of it.
- If bleeding occurs, rinse once with water; then place gauze or a cold, wet teabag with light pressure directly over the bleeding site for a period of 30 minutes. Pressure stops the bleeding, not rinsing.
- If you experience discomfort; take 2 ibuprofen (Advil) or 2 acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take aspirin. You may repeat the same dose in 4 to 6 hours after the first dose but do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended doses.
- If you experience discomfort from the tissues around your teeth (gums): you may gently rise with a half-teaspoon of table salt mixed into a 4 oz. Glass of very warm water (not too hot but as warm as possible and still remain comfortable for you). After gently “swishing” the water around in your mouth, turn your head to the side and allow the treated tissue to soak for one minute, timed by your watch. Important to note: Those patients affected by elevated blood pressure, you may rinse but we caution you not to swallow the salt-water solution.
- On the day following completion of your treatment, brush lightly and do not floss. Do not be concerned if you experience some bleeding when you begin brushing your teeth, this is anticipated immediately following the root planning procedure. However, do not be reluctant to brush your teeth. In order for our treatment to be successful you must begin brushing the day of treatment and begin flossing as instructed the day after treatment.
If you have any additional questions, please call the office