Keeping your head elevated above your heart will also help. Most swelling can occur in the morning and up to 3 days after surgery. Avoid sleeping / laying on the side that surgery was performed. Two days after surgery, moist heat will help resolve minor swelling.
After the surgery, the extraction area may ooze. It's mainly during the starting healing stages. Therefore, pick the right position while sleeping. Generally, the dentist recommends sleeping on the side rather than lying flat on the back.
Expect the 3rd or 4th day after the surgery to be the worst in swelling. Do not be alarmed if you have swelling at this time, it is normal. By the 5th day, the swelling should be down. For bruising and swelling you may go to any health food store (i.e. Whole Foods) and get some Arnica Montana.
Avoid sucking through a straw or actions that create suction in the mouth. If a large blood clot develops over the surgical site, you may carefully wipe it off with moistened gauze. The site is likely to start bleeding after the clot is removed. If this is the case, apply pressure for 15-20 minutes non-stop.
The bleeding usually stops on its own, but light pressure with moist gauze or a black tea bag can be applied if necessary. The gum graft is held in place with very delicate sutures and takes 5-7 days to attach firmly.
Depending on the type of sutures used, your gum graft stitches might dissolve by themselves. Dissolving dental sutures typically begin to melt 3 to 5 days post-op. Many patients who receive absorbable sutures notice that they have dissolved before their first follow-up after the surgery.
For the first two to three days after your gum grafting surgery, it's important to avoid talking.
After 24 Hours.
You may return to normal daily routine, but avoid strenuous activities such as heavy lifting, or exercise programs which elevate your heart rate for 1 week following surgery.
No straw for the next 2-3 days! 3rd day until 2 weeks after surgery: A very soft food diet should only be eaten (Pasta, soups, eggs, fish, cooked soft vegetables, oatmeal, rice, beans etc.) Avoid any hard, spicy, crusty, coffee or acidic foods. Chewing should be done on the side opposite the surgical site.
Keeping your head elevated above your heart will also help. Most swelling can occur in the morning and up to 3 days after surgery. Avoid sleeping / laying on the side that surgery was performed. Two days after surgery, moist heat will help resolve minor swelling.
You may notice increased discomfort 3-4 days after the surgical procedure. As the tissues begin to heal, they may pull against the sutures and dressing. You may choose to take some form of pain medication one hour prior to your suture removal appointment to minimize tenderness.
A normal part of wound healing is swelling, so when the tissues around your teeth swell it will move the teeth slightly out of position. This usually starts 2-3 days after surgery and lasts about 2 weeks.
Your oral surgeon will use plenty of anesthetic and possibly sedation to keep you as comfortable as possible. These can take some time to wear off in some cases, which can cause you to feel tired for the rest of the day.
Generally, you can start sleeping on your side after about two weeks post-surgery.
If you sleep flat, pressure can build at the surgical wounds, which can lead to excessive pain. By keeping your head elevated, this helps to prevent pressure, reducing pain. It also aids in reducing swelling more quickly.
This area takes one to two weeks to heal. While it's recommended that patients refrain from strenuous physical activity or exercise for 24 hours following the surgery, most patients find that they can return to their usual activities, such as work, the next day.
Gum graft healing
You will know that the graft is healing when the swelling subsides and the soft tissues are shrinking. Your gum tissue will begin binding to the root surface and bone. Then, new blood vessels will begin to form to enable blood flow to the graft. This stage takes four to six weeks from surgery.
Periodontal Cosmetic Procedures Instructions
Avoid hot foods for the 1st day (hot soups, coffee, tea) as they will increase swelling to the treated area(s). Warm foods can be consumed on the 2nd day.
DO NOT brush in the area where we placed the graft. We do not want to risk disturbing the area or the sutures. You may brush all other teeth as normal. The area where the graft was taken may bleed slightly once the anesthetic wears off.
After gum graft surgery, it is highly recommended to stick to a soft food diet for the first few days to avoid causing any trauma to the surgical site. They are gentle to your oral cavity, easier to consume, and less likely to get stuck and cause infection in the surgical area.
During the normal healing process, the gum graft site goes through many color changes. It will get red and puffy, then white or gray with sloughing for up to two weeks. The tissue will change to pink or the natural color of your gums as the area heals.
The gum tissue will undergo changes for the next 1-2 weeks. The graft color may change from pink to white. This is NORMAL. Then the color will change to red and then back to pink as the swelling decreases.
This white material is usually granulation tissue, a fragile tissue composed of blood vessels, collagen, and white blood cells. Granulation tissue is a normal part of your body's healing process and is not cause for concern.