Surgery
 REST: You will feel better if you relax the rest of the day. Keep your head elevated slightly while lying down.
BLEEDING: A little blood in the saliva for a few days is normal. Call Dr. Baird if you have large amounts of blood in your mouth. Keep steady pressure on the extraction site by biting firmly on apiece of gauze (folded twice) for 3 hours. Pressure helps to reduce bleeding and permits formation of a clot in the site. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on surgery site, smoke or use a straw. Brush the area gently but try to leave the site relatively undisturbed.
MEDICATIONS: Take all medications as directed. Most pain relievers have the potential to upset your stomach. Eat something before you take the pain medication.
SWELLING: You can minimize swelling by applying an ice bag (or even a package of frozen vegetables) to your face, 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off, during the first day after surgery. Wrap the bag in a washcloth to avoid skin irritation.
WARM SALT WATER: Starting 24 hours after surgery rinse your mouth for 10 minutes. Water every 2 hours with salt water (1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt in an 8 oz. glass of water). The water should be quite warm, almost hot. Do not rinse vigorously, but rather just hold some water gently in the area until it cools, then repeat several times.
SUTURES: Try to avoid “playing” with the sutures with your tongue and never try to remove them yourself. Dr. Baird will take them out a week after surgery.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: It is normal to have any or all of the following problems after surgery; Post-op pain, sometimes severe depending on the type of surgery done. Swelling in the area. Difficulty in opening your mouth widely. Bruising in your mouth and on your face in the surgical area. If you were sedated, some nausea is possible from the medications It is not normal to have the following: Increasing pain on the third day. Increasing swelling associated with a fever. Large amounts of bleeding. Loose or hanging sutures.
If you have any questions or problems, feel free to call Dr. Baird at his office (576-9725) or at his home (523-0903).
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