1. Do not rinse or spit excessively during the first 24 hours after your surgical treatment; if you must rinse, do it gently.
2. Do not brush or floss in the treated area.
3. If a surgical dressing was placed, leave it in place for 24 hours; if it comes off before 24 hours have passed, call us If it comes off after this, don't be concerned.
4. Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of gum tissue following laser therapy. Gum tissue can turn gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, and “stringy” and reflects a normal response to laser treatments.
5. To minimize swelling, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue using the ice bag beyond the day of the periodontal surgery.
6. Slight bleeding may occur and will appear to be exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. Determine the side of bloody area and place pressure on this area. If you cannot locate the origin of the bleeding, rinse your mouth gently with iced water and apply a wet tea bag rolled inside a wet gauge to the area.
7. If medication has been prescribed, please take as prescribed.
8. Reduce physical activity for minimum 72 hours following the surgery to maximize healing.
9. You will be on soft foods for 7 days, such as cottage cheese, soups, mashed potatoes, yoghurt, ice cream etc.
10. Don’t eat on the side of surgery. Avoid crispy or sticky food for 7-10 days. It can irritate the surgical area and induce bleeding.
11. Avoid spicy or excessively hot foods during the initial 72 hrs post-procedure.
