• Avoid hot drinks and food; alcohol; playing with the wound; rinsing your mouth.
• Drink plenty of cold warm drinks and eat soft food
• Smoking delays healing. Stop smoking.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity.
• Use Paracetamol or prescribed tablets for pain relief. It is recommended that you start this before the local aneaethesia wears off. Pain relievers containing Aspirin or Dispirin should not be used, as they can cause increased bleeding. If you take any of these emdications check with your dentist.
• To minimise swelling an ice pack (small baf of frozen peas) may be held on the side of the face. Apply 10-15 minutes every hour on the day of surgery.
• Slight oozing of blood is normal. If significant bleeding occurs, place a gauze or cotton pad over the bleeding site and apply pressure by biting down firmly for 15 to 30 minutes. This may need to be repeated.
• If bleeding is excessive and uncontrolled by pressure contact your dentist.

• It is essential to keep all wounds clean
• Brush your teeth including those around the wound. Food remnants and plaque delay healing
• Bathe your mouth gently 6 to 8 times a day with very warm salt water (level teaspoon of salt in a glass of water) Continue to do this, especially after eating, until the wound has completely healed. Avoid rinsing vigorously in the first 24 hours as this will dislodge the bllod clot.
• Clorhexidine (Savacol) mouthwash will help reduce the risk of infection

Some bleeding, swelling, discomfort and tightness of jaw muscles is normal.

If symptoms become severe contact your dentist immediately