Aftercare Advice: Looking After Yourself at Home
What we explain in the surgery, in writing, for the days that follow. If anything worries you, call us on 020 8788 6688; outside our hours, NHS 111.
General advice for adults. If your dentist told you something different, follow their instructions, and take any medicine exactly as the packet says.
After an Extraction
Keep firm pressure on the gauze for 20 to 30 minutes, then take the day easy with your head propped up
For 24 hours, avoid rinsing, spitting, straws, smoking, alcohol and hot drinks, so the clot that heals the socket stays in place
Start gentle warm salt water rinses after meals the following day
Take painkillers as directed before the numbness fades, and chew soft food on the opposite side for a few days
If the extraction was surgical, swelling and stiffness are usually worst on day two or three, then ease
Call us when pressure doesn't stop the bleeding, or if the pain is building instead of easing after day three.
After Implant Surgery
For the first few hours, hold a cold pack to your cheek: ten minutes on, then ten minutes off
Eat soft, cool food on the side away from the implant, and leave anything hot, crunchy or sharp for a week
Leave rinsing for 24 hours, then use warm salt water after meals; from day two, brush carefully around the stitches
Stay off cigarettes, and keep any hard exercise for after the first two days
If you had sedation, have an adult with you, and don't drive, drink alcohol or make big decisions for 24 hours
Call us if you develop a fever, anything feels loose, or the swelling is still increasing after day three. For the full timeline, read our surgery day guide.
After a Filling
Hold off eating until the feeling comes back, so you can't bite your cheek or tongue by accident
The tooth may be slightly sensitive to cold for a week or two; that's expected
A filling that feels high on biting is a quick fix: come back and we'll adjust it in minutes
Carry on brushing and cleaning between your teeth as usual that day
Call us if the tooth starts to ache by itself, or the sensitivity is increasing instead of fading.
After Root Canal Treatment
Expect the tooth to feel tender to bite on for a few days, and take ordinary painkillers as directed
Keep hard food off that tooth until the final restoration is in, and take extra care while it has a temporary filling
Lost the temporary filling between visits? Ring us, so we can keep the canals sealed
If we recommended a crown or onlay, book it soon; without one, a root-filled back tooth can crack
Call us if any swelling appears, or the pain is worsening after a few days.
With a New Crown, Bridge or Veneer
While you have a temporary, steer clear of sticky food, chew on the opposite side and pull floss out sideways
When the permanent restoration is bonded on, eat as usual as soon as the numbness wears off
It may feel a little sensitive, or just 'different', for a few days; both settle
Each day, use superfloss or an interdental brush under a bridge, and floss carefully around veneer edges
Grind at night? A night guard protects the new work
Call us if a temporary falls off, something works loose, or your bite feels high.
After Composite Bonding
The composite is fully set before you go, so eating and drinking straight away is fine
Limit coffee, red wine, curry and other staining foods for the first two days or so
While the bonded teeth still feel new, avoid biting into anything hard with them
Use a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste rather than a whitening one, and pull floss out sideways
About two weeks on, we see you again to check your bite and polish the bonding
Call us if an edge chips, or a tooth feels high on biting. Our bonding aftercare guide has more.
While Whitening at Home
Wear the trays for as long as your plan says, without overfilling them; wipe off any gel that reaches your gums
Some sensitivity is likely; if it turns sharp, miss a night, and brush with a sensitive toothpaste
While whitening, and for a couple of days afterwards, keep off tea, coffee, red wine and cigarettes
Hold on to your trays; a top-up gel from us about once a year maintains the shade
Call us if you notice white patches on your gums, or they feel sore. Read why it happens in our sensitivity guide.
After Hygiene or Gum Treatment
After a deep clean, a little bleeding and sensitivity for a few days is common, and it settles
Stick with the interdental brushes and technique we showed you; your daily cleaning does more than the appointment
If you had gum treatment under anaesthetic, stick to soft food until the numbness wears off, and rinse with warm salt water for a few days
Make your next appointment before leaving; a three-month gap is what keeps periodontitis stable
Call us if your gums stay sore beyond a week, or a tooth turns very sensitive to cold.
Living with Invisalign
Wear your aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only for meals and for drinks other than water
Clean your teeth before putting them back, and wash the aligners with a soft brush in cool, never hot, water
Each new set is tight for a day or two, and any slight lisp fades within days
Hold on to your last set until we tell you otherwise; it's your backup if one breaks or goes missing
Call us that day if you lose or break an aligner or an attachment comes off, and we'll say which set to wear.
Questions
The things people ring about most.
What is dry socket?+
It's what happens when the blood clot comes away from the socket before the gum has healed, typically three to five days after a tooth is taken out, and it's painful. The common triggers are smoking, vigorous rinsing and drinking through a straw. It isn't harmful, and once we've placed a dressing it calms down within a few days.
What if I lose or break an aligner?+
Ring us that day. Depending on your stage, we'll normally have you return to your last set or start the next one slightly early, and we'll order a replacement if you need it. Hang on to each old set until we say otherwise, so you always have a backup.
Does composite bonding hurt?+
Generally not, and since little or no enamel comes off, most people manage without an injection. You'll notice your teeth being cleaned, kept dry and shaped, but there's no pain. If we need to smooth a little enamel, we can numb that tooth beforehand. Soreness afterwards is rare, and you can eat normally as soon as the composite has set.
Is gum treatment painful?+
We numb the area for each deep-cleaning stage, so it feels like pressure rather than pain. Your gums may be tender for a few days afterwards, which everyday painkillers usually settle, and teeth can stay slightly sensitive to cold for a few weeks while the gums heal. Most people don't need anaesthetic for a routine hygiene visit, and Airflow is kinder than scraping.
Can I eat straight after a filling?+
Yes, once the numbness has gone. A curing light hardens the composite before you leave, so the filling is ready at once. Until feeling returns, though, it's easy to bite your tongue or cheek without noticing.
Guides
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Not Sure? Call Us
A web page can't stand in for a short call to the practice. If anything feels wrong after treatment, please ring; we would much rather know.