Oral Surgery and Tooth Extraction Aftercare at Smile Solutions product guide

Smile Solutions Oral Surgery and Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Whether you've just had a straightforward tooth extraction or a more involved procedure — wisdom tooth removal, dental implant surgery, or a biopsy — how you care for yourself in the hours and days that follow makes a real difference to how quickly and comfortably you recover.

At Smile Solutions, our specialists are committed to supporting you through every stage of recovery. This guide covers aftercare for both routine extractions and more complex oral surgery, drawing on the clinical standards our Melbourne patients rely on. Your treating dentist or surgeon will give you personalised instructions at your appointment, and those should always take priority over anything in this guide.

If you're worried about your recovery at any point, call Smile Solutions on 13 13 96.

Immediately after the procedure

Gauze and bleeding control

After your extraction or surgery, gauze will be placed over the surgical site. Bite down firmly and maintain steady pressure for at least 30–45 minutes. Don't chew the gauze or keep checking the wound — both disrupt the blood clot that's essential to healing.

Some oozing of blood mixed with saliva is completely normal for up to 24 hours. Saliva tends to make bleeding look heavier than it actually is, so try not to be alarmed.

If significant bleeding continues beyond 45 minutes:

• Replace the gauze with a fresh folded piece and bite firmly for another 30–45 minutes
• Alternatively, bite gently on a moistened tea bag — the tannic acid helps promote clotting
• Sit upright rather than lying flat
• Apply a cold pack to the outside of your face over the socket area

If bleeding remains difficult to control, contact Smile Solutions straight away.

Numbness

The local anaesthetic will typically keep the area numb for two to four hours after treatment, sometimes longer depending on the type and quantity used. During this time:

• Take care not to bite your cheek, lip, or tongue — you won't feel normal tissue sensation
• Avoid hot food and drinks until the numbness has fully resolved
• Supervise children carefully, as they may inadvertently injure numb tissue

Ice packs

Apply an ice pack — or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a clean cloth — to the side of your face for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off during the first 24 hours. Cold therapy works best in this initial window and helps keep early swelling down. After 48 hours, warm packs tend to feel more comfortable and can help with ongoing recovery.

Swelling

Some swelling after oral surgery is entirely normal. It typically becomes noticeable a few hours after the procedure, peaks between 48 and 72 hours, then gradually subsides over the following three to five days.

Swelling may extend to the cheek, jaw, and neck. For procedures in the upper jaw, the area around the eye can sometimes be affected too. Bruising often accompanies swelling and may track down the neck — all of this is a normal part of healing and resolves on its own.

Keep your head elevated, particularly when sleeping, for the first two to three nights. An extra pillow or two makes a genuine difference. Avoid bending over or doing anything physically strenuous, as increased blood flow to the head can make swelling worse.

Pain management

Pain after extraction or oral surgery is generally manageable with over-the-counter medication, and our team will guide you on the best approach for your situation.

Ibuprofen (400–600mg every 6–8 hours with food) is an anti-inflammatory and typically the most effective option for post-surgical dental pain. Always take it with food to protect your stomach. Avoid ibuprofen if you have a history of stomach ulcers, kidney problems, or an allergy to NSAIDs.

Paracetamol (500–1000mg every 4–6 hours) can be taken alongside ibuprofen for stronger combined relief. Because the two medications work through different mechanisms, they can safely be alternated or combined within recommended dosage limits.

Don't take aspirin for post-surgical pain — its blood-thinning properties increase the risk of bleeding.

For more complex procedures, your surgeon may prescribe a stronger pain reliever. Take any prescribed medication exactly as directed, and always complete a full antibiotic course if one has been prescribed.

Pain should start to ease from day two or three. If it's getting worse rather than better after day three, that may indicate a complication — see the dry socket section below — and you should contact Smile Solutions promptly.

Nausea

Nausea after oral surgery is fairly common. It can result from the local anaesthetic, swallowed blood, pain medication (particularly opioids if prescribed), or pre-procedure anxiety. If you feel nauseous:

• Eat a light, bland meal before taking pain medication
• Sip flat ginger ale or cool water slowly
• Rest quietly and avoid sudden movements

If nausea persists or you vomit repeatedly, contact your surgeon — dehydration can significantly slow your recovery.

Oral hygiene after surgery

Good oral hygiene matters for healing, but the surgical site needs a gentle approach, especially in the first few days.

Day of surgery: Don't rinse, spit, or use a straw for the first 24 hours. The suction created by spitting or straw use can dislodge the forming blood clot, which may lead to dry socket. You can gently brush your other teeth, but avoid the surgical site and skip mouthwash entirely on day one.

Day 2 onwards: Rinse gently with warm salt water — half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water — two to three times daily, particularly after meals. Continue brushing your other teeth normally. If there's an elevated concern about infection risk, your surgeon may recommend a chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Days 3–7: Keep up the gentle rinsing and regular brushing of unaffected teeth. The site will begin to close over during this period — resist the urge to probe the area with your tongue or fingers.

Diet and eating

Day of surgery and day 1: Stick to soft foods — yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potato, soup (cooled, not piping hot), ice cream, smoothies. Let food cool before eating, since heat can increase bleeding. Eat on the opposite side of your mouth to the surgical site, stay well hydrated, and avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, and straws entirely.

Days 2–3: Gradually reintroduce slightly firmer soft foods as comfort allows. Keep avoiding the surgical site when chewing. Protein-rich foods genuinely support healing, so prioritise those where you can.

Week 1–2: Avoid hard, crunchy, or sharp foods — chips, nuts, and hard bread crusts can disturb the healing site. Spicy and acidic foods are also best avoided. Alcohol should be off the table for at least five days, or for the full duration of any antibiotic course.

Stitches

Your surgeon will tell you whether your sutures are dissolvable or need to be removed.

Dissolvable sutures break down on their own, typically over 7–14 days, and don't need a follow-up appointment. Small pieces of suture material may become visible in your mouth as they dissolve — that's completely normal.

Non-dissolvable sutures require removal at a follow-up appointment, usually 7–10 days after surgery. Don't attempt to remove them yourself.

If sutures come out earlier than expected, contact Smile Solutions so we can check whether any follow-up is needed.

Signs of infection

Some inflammation and discomfort is a normal part of healing. The following signs, though, suggest infection and need prompt attention:

• Pain that's increasing after day three rather than gradually easing
• Swelling that isn't starting to reduce after 72 hours
• Fever above 38°C
• Pus or discharge from the surgical site
• Redness that's spreading rather than settling
• An unpleasant taste or odour from the wound
• Difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth (trismus)

Call Smile Solutions on 13 13 96 if you notice any of these.

Seek emergency care immediately if you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, or rapidly spreading swelling to the neck or throat.

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis)

Dry socket is the most common complication of tooth extraction. It happens when the blood clot that forms in the empty socket is dislodged or fails to form properly, leaving the underlying bone exposed.

Symptoms include severe, throbbing pain that starts two to four days after extraction — often radiating to the ear, temple, or jaw — along with a visibly empty socket and persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste.

Risk factors include smoking, using straws, oral contraceptive use, difficult extractions, and poor clot formation.

Treatment is straightforward but needs to be done in the clinic. Your dentist will irrigate the socket and place a medicated dressing to relieve pain while the socket heals naturally. Multiple dressing changes may be needed over one to two weeks.

If you think you might have dry socket, call us on 13 13 96 for an urgent appointment. Don't wait and hope it resolves — it won't without treatment.

Returning to normal activity

Light activity can resume from day one if you feel up to it. Exercise and sport should wait at least 48–72 hours — longer after more complex surgery — because elevated heart rate and blood pressure can dislodge clots and worsen swelling.

Work: Most people return to desk-based work the day after a straightforward extraction. More complex oral surgery may mean two to three days away.

Driving: Don't drive while taking prescription pain medication, or if you were sedated for the procedure. Wait until you're completely clear-headed.

Smoking: Avoid for at least 72 hours — and ideally much longer. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for dry socket and substantially impairs healing.

Follow-up

A post-operative review may be scheduled depending on the complexity of your procedure. If your sutures need removal, a follow-up appointment will be booked before you leave. For simpler extractions, a formal review may not be necessary — but please contact us if you have any concerns at all.

Call Smile Solutions on 13 13 96 any time you have a question about your recovery. We'd far rather you reach out and be reassured than wait while a potential complication gets worse. Your wellbeing doesn't stop being our concern the moment you leave the chair.