How to Care for Yourself in the Hours and Days Ahead

• Bite gently on gauze to control bleeding; change as needed or as instructed.
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off).
• Rest with your head elevated.
• Avoid rinsing, spitting, or using straws.
• Do not smoke, vape, or drink alcohol.

• Stick to soft foods (soups, yogurt, scrambled eggs) for the first few days.
• Avoid hot, spicy, or crunchy foods.
• Stay hydrated with water.
• Limit physical activity and avoid bending or heavy lifting.

• Follow all prescribed medication instructions carefully.
• Resume brushing the day after surgery, avoiding the surgical site.
• Use any recommended rinses gently, as directed.

For more in-dept information for specific post-operative care, you can refer to these documents:

Post operative expectations and instructions
Post intravenous anesthesia sedation
Implant post op care
Instruction sheet for post-operative care after an intraoral biopsy
Post-operative care instructions: Skin or extraoral biopsy
Sinus precautions