Care of the Mouth after Local Anesthetic

Your child has had local anesthetic for their dental procedure:

• If the procedure was in the lower jaw, the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
• If the procedure was in the upper jaw, the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.

Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek. These actions can cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for approximately two hours following the appointment. It is often wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.

Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of the Mouth after Trauma

Please keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. A soft wash cloth often works well during healing to aid the process.

• Watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This could be an indication of a dying nerve (pulp).
• Watch for infection in the area of trauma. If infection is noticed call the office.
• Maintain a soft diet for two to three days, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
• Avoid sweets or foods that are extremely hot or cold.
• If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be sure to follow the prescription as directed.

Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of the Mouth after Extractions

Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. Your child should be watched closely so she does not injure her lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.

1. Bite on a gauze pad for 30 minutes and then discard. After tooth extraction some bleeding is to be expected. If persistent and extensive bleeding occurs, place gauze pad or wet tea bag over the bleeding area and bite down firmly for 45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Avoid excessive exertion. If bleeding still continues, call our office.
2. DO NOT rinse mouth on the day of the extraction. The next day rinse mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt per glass of water) three times daily for one week.
3. Avoid hot food and beverages for the rest of the day.
4. No spitting or using a straw for 24 hours.

For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the bottle.

Please do not hesitate to contact the office if there are any questions.

Care of Sealants

By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque and food, thus decreasing the risk of decay. Since, the covering is only over the biting surface of the tooth, areas on the side and between teeth cannot be coated with the sealant. Good oral hygiene and nutrition are still very important in preventing decay next to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered.

The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants can play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. When properly applied and maintained, they can successfully protect the chewing surfaces of your child's teeth. A total prevention program includes regular visits to the dentist, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and limiting sugar-rich foods. If these measures are followed and sealants are used on the child's teeth, the risk of decay can be reduced or may even be eliminated!

Oral Discomfort after a Cleaning

A thorough cleaning unavoidably produces some bleeding and swelling and may cause some tenderness or discomfort. This is not due to a "rough cleaning" but to tender and inflamed gums from insufficient oral hygiene.

We recommend the following for two to three days after cleaning:

1. A warm salt water rinse two to three times per day (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water)
2. For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child

Please do not hesitate to contact the office if the discomfort persists for more than seven days or if there are any questions.

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