Home Care Instructions
After-visit guidance, by procedure.
A short, practical guide to the days after common dental treatments. If something does not feel right and is not covered here, call us at 540-337-6004.
After a routine cleaning
Your teeth may feel a little sensitive for the rest of the day, especially if there was significant tartar removed at the gumline. Cool water and lukewarm food are easiest in the first few hours. Resume regular brushing and flossing the same day. If a gum area was particularly inflamed, it may feel tender for one to two days — warm salt-water rinses help.
After a filling
The anesthetic typically wears off in two to four hours. Avoid chewing on the numb side until feeling returns to prevent accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. Your bite may feel slightly off for a day or two as you settle into the new filling — if it still feels high after 48 hours, call us and we will adjust it. Cold sensitivity for a few weeks is normal.
After an extraction
Bite firmly on the gauze for 30 to 45 minutes after the extraction to control bleeding. Some oozing is normal for several hours. Do not rinse vigorously, spit forcefully, or use a straw for 24 hours — these can dislodge the protective clot. Ice the cheek for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, for the first day to limit swelling. Soft food, lukewarm temperature, and plenty of rest. Call us if pain worsens after day three, which can signal a dry socket and is easy to treat.
After a crown placement
If you received a temporary crown, avoid sticky or hard foods on that side until your permanent crown is cemented — the temporary is held with mild cement that can come off. Once the permanent crown is in, treat it like any other tooth. Mild sensitivity to cold for a week or two is normal. If your bite feels even slightly off, let us know — a few seconds of adjustment can make a real difference.
After a root canal
The tooth itself should no longer feel the original deep pain, but the surrounding ligament may be sore for a few days from the procedure. Over-the-counter ibuprofen (if you tolerate it) handles most discomfort. Chew on the other side until your final restoration — usually a crown — is placed, which protects the now-hollow tooth from fracturing. Call us if you notice swelling that increases after day two.
After deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)
Gums may feel tender for two to three days. Soft food and lukewarm temperatures are easier early on. Warm salt-water rinses (a teaspoon in a cup of water) three times a day help. Resume gentle brushing the next day, and flossing as soon as it is comfortable. We will see you back in six to eight weeks to re-measure the gum pockets and check healing.
When to call
Call the office if you notice any of these.
- Swelling that increases after day two.
- Pain that gets sharper rather than better.
- A bite that feels off after 48 hours.
- A lost filling, crown, or temporary.
- Bleeding that has not stopped after several hours of gauze pressure.