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Care of the Mouth After Local Anesthetic |
Care of the Mouth After Trauma |
Care of the Mouth After Extractions
Care of Sealants |
Oral Discomfort After a Cleaning
Care of the Mouth After
Local Anesthetic
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If the procedure was in the lower jaw the tongue,
teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or
asleep.
- If the procedure was in the upper jaw the teeth, lip
and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
- Often, children do not understand the effects of
local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play
with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek. These actions can
cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to
cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue.
- Monitor your child closely for approximately two
hours following the appointment. It is often wise to
keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the
anesthetic has worn off.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are
any questions.
Care of the Mouth After Trauma
- Please keep the traumatized area as-clean-as
possible. A soft wash cloth often works well during
healing to aid the process.
- Watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This could
be an indication of a dying nerve (pulp).
- If the swelling should re-occur, our office needs to
see the patient as-soon-as possible. Ice should be
administered during the first 24 hours to keep the
swelling to a minimum.
- Watch for infection (gum boils) in the area of
trauma. If infection is noticed - call the office so the
patient can be seen as-soon-as possible.
- Maintain a soft diet for two to three days, or until
the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
- Avoid sweets or foods that are extremely hot or
cold.
- If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be
sure to follow the prescription as directed.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are
any questions.
Care of the Mouth After
Extractions
- Do not scratch , chew, suck, or rub the lips,
tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. The
child should be watched closely so he/she does not
injure his/her lip, tongue, or cheek before the
anesthesia wears off.
- Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
- Do not spit excessively.
- Do not drink a carbonated beverage (Coke, Sprite,
etc.) for the remainder of the day.
- Do not drink through a straw.
- Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction
area.
Bleeding - Some bleeding is to be expected. If
unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze
firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in
place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished
with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary.
- Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the
child feels comfortable eating normally again.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for
several hours after the extraction.
Pain - For discomfort use Children's Tylenol,
Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child. If a
medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the
bottle.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are
any questions.
Care of Sealants
By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures,
sealants keep out plaque and food, thus decreasing the risk
of decay. Since, the covering is only over the biting
surface of the tooth, areas on the side and between teeth
cannot be coated with the sealant. Good oral hygiene and
nutrition are still very important in preventing decay next
to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered.
Your child should refrain from eating ice or hard candy,
which tend to fracture the sealant. Regular dental
appointments are recommended in order for your child's
dentist to be certain the sealants remain in place.
The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants
can play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay.
When properly applied and maintained, they can successfully
protect the chewing surfaces of your child's teeth. A total
prevention program includes regular visits to the dentist,
the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and
limiting the number of times sugar-rich foods are eaten. If
these measures are followed and sealants are used on the
child's teeth, the risk of decay can be reduced or may even
be eliminated!
Oral Discomfort After a
Cleaning
A thorough cleaning unavoidably produces some bleeding
and swelling and may cause some tenderness or discomfort.
This is not due to a "rough cleaning" but, to tender and
inflamed gums from insufficient oral hygiene. We recommend
the following for 2-3 days after cleaning was performed:
- A warm salt water rinse 2-3 times per day. (1
teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water)
- For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil or
Motrin as directed by the age of the child.
Please do not hesitate to contact the office if the
discomfort persists for more than 7 days or if there are any
questions.
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