For two weeks avoid blowing your nose. Nose blowing may cause bleeding and may tear the thin membrane that contains the bone graft. Try to avoid sneezing and, if you must, do so with your mouth open. Avoid forceful sucking or drinking through a straw.
AVOID PEROXIDE, ALCOHOL, CARBONATED BEVERAGES, AND DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW. After 24 Hours. You may have soft foods, such as cooked vegetables, fish, pasta, and meatloaf, which are easily chewed. You should use utensils and avoid chewing at the surgical site for 2 weeks.
Hard foods – chewing may dislodge the gum graft. Chewy foods – even vegetables. Although they are healthy, they may require more chewing than is recommended as you heal from your surgery. Hot foods –they will burn your gums, increasing sensitivity and pain.
You should also refrain from speaking. While you may feel up to chatting, it's best to wait 2 or 3 days unless otherwise advised by a dentist. The idea of remaining silent for 3-days doesn't mean you can't communicate.
The after effects of periodontal surgery can vary from individual to individual so not all of these instructions may apply. It is very important to keep the surgical area as immobile as possible for the first 72 hours following soft tissue graft surgery. DO NOT pull on your lips or try to see the surgical area.
Avoid Talking (As Much As Possible)
Talking causes your mouth's muscles to stretch, which, in turn, can loosen up the gauze and increase the chances of bleeding. Refraining from speaking is hard, but try to remain silent as much as possible for the first two to three days after gum grafting surgery.
8. Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercise or lifting weights for the 1st week after surgery. You may walk or ride a bike carefully. 9.
It is not unusual to have discomfort for at least the first week following your surgical procedure, though for most procedures and most patients the first night, and first 2-3 days will have the worst pain/discomfort.
Usually, you can tell you have a failed gum graft because you will have a large white patch of white tissue that has come off the tooth. Sometimes it may even look like the gum graft is falling off.
Following oral surgery, we recommend that you sleep with your head and shoulders propped up above your heart level. Add an extra pillow or two to your bed or to the place where you will be resting. If you have a recliner, this is also an excellent way to keep your head elevated.
Patient may experience pain, described as a constant dull ache or sharper pain during mastication or speaking (movement of oral and peri-oral tissues). Patient experiences anxiety over procedure and perceived lack of success.
Although a gum graft is not considered major dental surgery, it is best to consult with a specialist (periodontist) for optimum results. Preventing the need for gum grafts starts with knowing why gum recession occurs: Heredity – You can't change who your ancestors are, but you can take steps to manage your oral health.
While every patient is different, it is not uncommon for the effects of anesthesia to take time to wear off, causing you to feel tired and a bit sore in the immediate hours following your procedure.
Do not drink any sodas or acidic fruit juices. 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.
Do not look at the surgery site after leaving here. Some areas may remain sore for 5 to 6 days. The grafts may be a whitish or grayish appearance for 4 to 6 days after surgery, but this is normal until full blood circulation is restored.
Suture Removal
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.
You may have a pink putty band-aid lying across the surgical site. This should be left on for at least 2 to 3 days. It allows gums to heal a bit before exposing to air, liquids and food. You may remove the putty yourself after 3 days by gently picking or peeling it loose.
Recovery from Gum Graft Surgery
While every patient recovers at their own pace, swelling usually resolves completely by the tenth day. This again depends on the extent of the procedure and post-operative compliance. To keep swelling to a minimum, patients alternate ice 20 minutes on and 20 minutes.
Gum grafting is a highly safe and effective procedure; it has been tested and proven successful in treating countless cases of receding and thinning gums due to aggressive brushing and gum disease. Still, complications and infections may occur, especially without proper post-op care.
In addition, patients will frequently complain of a bad smell and indicate their graft is “dead.” Because plasmatic circulation is important to graft survival, pooling of blood — sufficient to form a clot at the interface between host and graft tissues — will be detrimental to success.
Saltwater work by increasing the PH balance in your mouth. It creates a more alkaline oral environment in which the bacteria can no longer thrive. Instead, the harmful bacteria grow more in an acidic environment, so once it is neutralized, your mouth can become healthier and less inflamed.
Connective tissue restoration and collagen production may also be slowed as a result of alcohol consumption. In other words, drinking can extend your surgical recovery period. But, that's not the only reason to stay sober. Alcohol exposure can also increase the chance that you'll get an infection.
If we use local anesthesia to numb you during the procedure, you can drive yourself home from the office. Most local anesthesia wears off in about 4-8 hours. If you requested stronger anesthetic medication, like IV or oral sedation, you need someone else to drive you home after the procedure.
For 3 days after your surgery, DO NOT spit, smoke, rinse hard, drink through a straw, create a “sucking” action in your mouth, use a commercial mouthwash, drink carbonated soda, or use an oral irrigating device. Doing any of these can disrupt clotting, the healing process, open the incision and cause the graft to fail.