DAY 1–2 Protect the wound
- Gauze: Bite firmly on the gauze for 30–45 minutes, then remove it. After removing it, have vanilla ice cream or cold milk.
- Do not rinse: No gargling, rinsing, spitting, or straws for the first 2 days. This protects the blood clot that helps the wound heal.
- Ice pack: Hold it on your cheek for 10 minutes, then remove it for 10 minutes. Repeat often during the first 2 days.
- Food: Choose soft, cold or lukewarm food such as curd, ice cream, milkshake (without a straw), khichdi, or dal. Chew on the other side.
- Avoid: Hot food and drinks, and hard foods such as biscuits or wafers for the first 2 days.
- Rest & medicines: Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow. Take medicines exactly as prescribed.
- Brushing: Brush your other teeth gently and stay away from the wound.
- First check-up: Visit the clinic 48 hours (2 days) after surgery.
Usually normal: Swelling may increase over 48–72 hours. Mild pain, a little blood in saliva, and difficulty opening your mouth wide can also occur.
DAY 3–6 Healing starts
- Salt-water rinses: Mix ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse gently 3–4 times a day, especially after meals. Do not swish hard.
- Swelling: It is often at its peak around day 3, then begins to reduce. Use a warm compress instead of ice if advised by your dentist.
- Food & brushing: Slowly return to normal food. Avoid hard, crunchy, and very spicy food. Brush gently near the wound.
- Jaw: Gently open and close your mouth a few times a day to ease stiffness.
- Still avoid: Smoking, gutkha, tobacco, alcohol, and heavy exercise.
Usually normal: Some cheek bruising and a stiff jaw that improves each day.
DAY 7–8 Stitch removal visit
- Visit the clinic on day 7 or 8 to have your stitches removed and the area checked.
- Finish prescribed medicines as directed by your dentist.
- You can usually return gradually to normal food and routine.
- The gap takes a few weeks to fill completely. Keep the area clean as advised by your dentist.