Nampa Dentist | Nampa dental care | ID | Home Care After Dental Treatment

Antibiotics:

If your child has been given a prescription for antibiotics, continue the antibiotics until the bottle is empty.

Bleeding:

Some bleeding is normal.  Have your child bite on a moist gauze pack for at least 15 minutes after a tooth removal with a firm, constant pressure.  If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, apply pressure for 10-15 minutes or more.  Chewing, sucking or spitting can make the forming blood clot loosen and fall out.  Keep your child quiet today.  If you child lays down use several pillows behind the back and head so he or she is partially sitting up.  Some blood in the saliva is expected for the rest of today and possibly tonight.  It may be wise to protect the pillowcase tonight.

Local  Anesthetics:

Your child has been given a cotton roll to bite on until his/her tooth and the soft tissue around the tooth “wakes up.”  Do not allow your child to chew, suck on, or pinch his/her cheek, lip or tongue until complete feeling returns (1½ to 2 hours).  Do not allow your child to have anything to eat that needs to be chewed until lips and cheek are "awake.”  Liquids are okay, as well as Jell-O, yogurt, milk shakes, soup, etc. 

Discomfort:

Your child may have a little pain after treatment from the rubber dam or preparation of the tooth.  You may give ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, generic brands) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, generic brands) following the instructions on the bottle.

Swelling:

Swelling is unusual, but is most commonly caused by a lip or cheek bite while the tissue was numb.  If there is swelling after a tooth removal, put an ice pack to the cheek in the area of the surgery for 20 minutes on, and 20 minutes off.  This may need to be done for the first 6 to 8 hours.

Sensitivity:

Teeth may be sensitive to hot, cold, or chewing following dental care.  This problem will get better over the next few days.

Crowns, Space Maintainers:

Your child should not eat hard or chewy candy (gum, caramels, licorice, etc).  Your child should not chew ice or very hard things like corn nuts, or put fingers or other objects in the mouth because they can bend or break wires.