After Visit Care

Mouth Care Following Treatment

  • Your child may drink, but do not permit eating until normal feeling returns which may be one or two hours.
  • Warn your child to not pinch or bite his lip, tongue or cheeks while numb.
  • For primary tooth removal sites, a normal diet and cleaning efforts can resume when normal feeling returns.
  • The gums may be tender for a few days. Scrub the gums firmly. even though uncomfortable or bleeding, for the most rapid healing.
  • Children’s Tylenol or Aspirin may be helpful though most children do well without.
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold is normal for up to two weeks, if this persists or worsens please call us.

Oral Surgery or Permanent Removal Site Care

Do all of the above plus the following:

  • No Spitting, rinsing, or sucking from a straw for 24 hours.
  • Keep patient calm and quiet, no active playing.
  • The next day begin gentle warm salt water rinses after every meal and before bedtime for 5 days.

Care of Oral Ulcers

  • Ulcers usually last 7 to 14 days.  If persistent, a visit may be helpful.
  • Drink plenty of fluids. If necessary force milk, fruit juice, blend soup or most any nutritious drink.
  • A nutritious diet aids healing.
  • Mouth rinses can reduce discomfort for meals and oral cleaning. Cepecol or Chloroseptic mouth rinse every two hours is helpful.
  • Glycerin, Gly-Oxide, Zilactin, Kanka or Orabase applied to the ulcers after each meal and bedtime can be soothing if the ulcers are affecting your child’s normal activities.
  • Keep the teeth clean with a soft toothbrush.
  • Use children’s Tylenol for fever.

Intermediate Care of Abscessed or Decayed Teeth

  • No sweets and no snacks until the teeth are treated since they cause discomfort.
  • Keep the teeth and gums clean with a soft tooth brush.
  • If your child has a fever, facial swelling or is unable to eat well, antibiotics should be taken as prescribed.
  • Force a good diet and force nutritious drinks.
  • Call us for persistent fever, swelling or lack of appetite.

Cardiovascular and Heart Defects

  • Bacteria normally present in the mouth enter the blood stream during eating, tooth brushing, flossing and during dental treatment. Once in the blood stream the bacteria can grow on the heart defect and cause BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS, a very serious illness which can cause death.
  • Healthy teeth and gums which do not bleed when brushed and flossed well, reduce the openings for the bacteria.
  • Antibiotics are recommended before and after dental treatment by the American Heart Association to reduce the chance of getting Bacterial Endocarditis. The first dose is taken one hour prior to the visit. The second and final dose is taken six hours Later.
  • Please call us if your child becomes feverish.
Skip to content