Caring for your smile
after your visit.

What you may notice

Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days. It may be most noticeable during the first 12-24 hours after the anesthetic wears off. Your gums and the injection site may also feel sore. The filling may feel a little different in shape or texture at first.

Care at home

• Your composite filling is fully set when you leave the office. Be careful eating while you are numb so you do not bite your lips, cheeks or tongue.
• Watch children until their numbness wears off, as they may chew their lips, cheeks or tongue.
• Keep up with brushing and flossing.

What you may notice

Cold sensitivity and tenderness in the gums around the treated tooth can happen after treatment. It may take a few days to get used to your new restoration.

Care at home

• Avoid chewy, sticky, hard or crunchy foods for the first hour after placement. Wait until the anesthetic has worn off before eating to avoid biting your lip, tongue or cheek.
• For the first few days, avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks.
• Resume regular brushing and flossing right away. The tooth beneath a crown can still develop decay, especially where the crown meets the tooth.
• For tender gums, the handout recommends a warm salt-water rinse using 1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water.

What you may notice

Mild temperature sensitivity, tenderness around the gums and biting soreness for a few days can happen with a temporary restoration.

Care at home

• Continue brushing around the temporary.
• Avoid flossing around the temporary, as it may dislodge it.
• Be careful when biting and chewing. Avoid hard, tough, crunchy or sticky foods.
• Keep your temporary in place until your final restoration is ready.

What you may notice

Some discomfort for several days and a little oozing can happen after an extraction or oral surgery. Blood mixed with saliva may make bleeding look heavier than it is.

During the first 24 hours

• After an extraction, bite firmly on the gauze pad for 30-60 minutes. If oozing is profuse after one hour, repeat with a clean gauze pad.
• Protect the blood clot: avoid spitting, sucking on candies, using straws or rinsing your mouth. Do not brush or floss next to the extraction site.
• Avoid tobacco for at least 72 hours.
• Keep activities calm and elevate your head with pillows when lying down.
• Avoid hot, carbonated or alcoholic drinks and hot or spicy foods.
• Use an ice bag over the area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
• Once the numbness is completely gone, drink fluids and eat soft, nutritious foods, chewing on the opposite side.

After the first 24 hours

• Return to your usual food as soon as it is comfortable.
• Resume brushing and flossing, cleaning gently around the site for about a week.
• After the first 24 hours, rinse very gently with warm salt water two to three times a day for one week, using about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water.
• Take prescribed medicines as directed. If antibiotics were prescribed, complete the indicated course.

What you may notice

Some discomfort, especially when chewing, can happen for several days after a root canal appointment. A temporary filling or crown may protect the tooth between appointments.

Care at home

• Avoid chewing on the treated side until the numbness has completely worn off.
• Avoid sticky foods and biting hard foods or objects, including ice. If possible, chew on the opposite side.
• Continue brushing and flossing normally.
• The handout recommends rinsing three times a day with warm salt water: one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water.
• Take prescribed medicines as directed and complete any prescribed antibiotic course.
• Follow through with your final restoration. A crown is usually the last step, unless your dentist tells you otherwise.

What you may notice

Tenderness and sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods can happen as your gums heal. Sensitivity may gradually settle over a few weeks.

Care at home

• Wait until the anesthetic has completely worn off before eating on the treated area, so you do not bite or burn your cheek, tongue or lip.
• Avoid hard foods such as chips, popcorn and seeds for the next several days.
• Use warm salt-water rinses two to three times a day. Use prescribed rinses as directed.
• Resume gentle brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day and flossing daily. Use a WaterPik only if recommended.
• Sensitivity toothpaste or fluoride rinses may help. Avoid whitening toothpastes or toothpastes with baking soda.
• Avoid smoking for 24-48 hours after treatment and keep your periodontal maintenance visits.

What you may notice

Mild sensitivity to hot or cold liquids may happen and usually passes within a couple of days. Sensitivity toothpaste may help.

Care at home

• For the first 48 hours, avoid tobacco and staining foods or drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, soft drinks, berries, red sauces, mustard, ketchup and soy sauce.
• Continue thorough brushing and flossing and regular dental cleanings.

What you may notice

Eating and speaking can take practice. Extra saliva at first is common. Reading aloud can help you get used to speaking with your new denture or partial.

Care at home

• Clean every morning and evening and rinse after meals. Clean over cold water or a soft cloth to protect against damage if dropped.
• Keep the appliance moist in water or denture solution when it is out of your mouth.
• Take it out at night so your tissues can rest, unless your dentist has instructed otherwise for your partial.
• Brush your gums and tongue; if you wear a partial, continue brushing your natural teeth twice daily and flossing.
• For partials, start with soft foods and eat small amounts slowly. Avoid very hard or sticky foods and regular chewing gum.
• Do not bite a partial into place, bend its clasps or adjust or repair it yourself.