Post Laser Treatment Home Care Instructions
- Vitamins, dietary supplements, or medications may be prescribed to improve your overall health. Take any prescribed medication according to directions.
- Dental laser procedures result in little or no discomfort following surgery. Take prescribed pain medications according to instructions if needed.
- Daily Care - Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible in order to help the healing process. Brush, floss, and follow other home-care measures in all the areas of your mouth except for the surgerized area.
- Brush the teeth by placing the bristles of the brush on the gums below the tooth and carefully rolling the bristles toward the tooth surface. Do not stick the bristles into the gums.
- Brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth. During the first day drink liquids only. A liquid dietary supplement may be recommended.
- When flossing, carefully place the floss between the teeth and avoid pushing the floss under the gums until instructed to do so.
- During the first week, eat only soft foods. Do not chew where the surgery was performed.
- The length of time it takes for the gums to heal depends upon the severity of the disease. Most healing in the surface areas takes 2 – 4 weeks. Deeper pocket areas may take several months to completely heal.
- Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of tissues following laser therapy. Tissues can be gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, “stringy” and reflect normal response to laser treatments.
- Reduce activity for several hours following the surgery.
- It is OK to spit, rinse, and wash your mouth today. Rinse as directed with Peridex or Periogard morning and night. In between it is OK to rinse gently every three (3) hours with warn salt water (1/2 teaspoons of salt dissolved in an 8oz. Glass of warm water).
- Do not eat spicy or excessively hot foods.
- Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the surgerized area.
- Do not be alarmed if one of the following occurs:
- Light bleeding
- Slight swelling
- Some soreness, tenderness, or tooth sensitivity
- Medicinal taste, from Peridex or Periogard
- The surgical pack is placed on the area to prevent food, trauma, and/or smoke from irritating the surgerized tissues. If a piece of the pack falls out or if the entire pack loosens of falls out, do not be alarmed.
- Swelling may possibly occur. To keep this at a minimum, 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.
- Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. Determine the side of oozing 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 to the general area. If excessive bleeding continues, please call the office.
- It is very important to maintain a good food and fluid intake. Try to eat soft but nutritious food such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, malts, ice cream, etc., until you can comfortably return to a normal diet.
- Please call the office so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
- Prolonged or severe pain
- Prolonged or excessive bleeding
- Considerably elevated or persistent temperature.
- Do not be alarmed that beginning with just 2 weeks after therapy and extending as long as 1 year or more, the teeth may become sore, tender, or sensitive as the bone and ligaments around the teeth regenerate and become more firm. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of a bite imbalance that needs to be adjusted.