After dental treatment, you should brush and floss the treated area to avoid infection and discomfort, this is very important. Rinse with warm salt water (1 cup of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt) regularly, 3-4 times a day until the gums heal.

Dentures should be brushed just like your mouth after every meal. Dentures should be removed every night and not worn to sleep. Proper care requires the use of special agents or liquids for cleaning dentures only.

The dentist has to “numb” the tooth or area of the mouth that needs to be treated. This is for your comfort and so that you can have a pain-free experience. After the treatment has been completed the anesthesia will slowly wear off. You may feel the sensation of swelling and tingling of the cheek and surrounding areas. This will last for a short time and will resolve try not to bite your cheek, or scratch your face during this time.

You can take Ibuprofen or Tylenol to help with discomfort.

Avoid eating or chewing until the anesthesia has completely worn off to avoid accidental bites.

The filling is a material used to fill the part of the tooth or molar that was destroyed by decay. Root canal treatment is a filling of the canal within the root after the infection has been eliminated. The filling material can be seen in the mouth, the material used for root canal treatment cannot be seen with the naked eye because it is covered by the gums.

Once the anesthetic wears off, it is normal to experience discomfort when chewing and sensitivity to hot and cold for several days, sometimes several weeks, until your mouth gets used to it.

Avoid eating sticky or very hard foods. If discomfort persists, please return to the office for a simple padding adjustment or re-evaluation.

Be sure to make the child understand that the swelling and tingling sensation caused because of the anesthesia it is only temporary and will pass soon. Take great care with your child to avoid biting the tongue and/or cheeks and lips. Remind them not to place objects in the mouth or try to remove restorations that have been made. Help them keep the area clean, brush around the gums to prevent infections. Do it gently so as not to hurt the area that was treated. Always brush and floss after every meal.

A space maintainer may be placed after a primary or baby tooth has been extracted early. That space must be preserved by means of this device until the permanent tooth is seen to come out. Return to the office in case of swollen gums or if the brace falls off.