Local Anaesthetic (being numb)

For some dental treatment you may need to have local anaesthetic (be numbed up) and there are just a few things to bear in mind when you leave the practice.

  • Avoid hot food and drinks until feeling comes back. It's very easy to burn yourself on a hot cup of tea without realising
  • Try not to bite your tongue or lip- you won't feel it until later.
  • Don't keep prodding the numb area to see if feeling has returned. You'll make the soft tissues like your lip and gum sore.
  • Depending on what treatment has been done you may wish to take some painkillers like paracetamol afterwards. This is fine but if you're still in pain after a couple of days please get in touch.

 Extraction After Care

On the day of the extraction:

  • Try not to disturb the socket with your tongue, or while eating and drinking
  • Do not rinse out your mouth
  • Rest following the extraction and avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day
  • Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours.
  • If the wound starts to bleed, roll gauze into a firm pad, place across the socket and bite down firmly for 10-15 minutes, longer if necessary.
  • If it continues to bleed please contact the surgery.

For your comfort:

  • Avoid spicy, acidic, hard or chilled food and drinks.
  • Any pain and soreness following the extraction can be relieved by taking a mild non-aspirin based painkiller such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.
  • Avoid chewing on the side of the extraction for the next few days.

The day after treatment

  • Bathe the socket with warm salty water, a level teaspoon of salt in warm (not boiling) water in the mornings, after meals and before bed for the next 5 days. Do not rinse vigorously but hold it over the socket for 1-2 minutes.
  • You may brush your teeth as normal but take care around the extraction site.

It is important to keep your mouth as clean as possible as this allows the area to heal properly and quickly.

        If you have any problems during surgery opening hours please call the practice on  01525 374100. If it is out of hours please call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

Tooth Whitening

  • Apply the tooth whitening gel to clean, dry teeth for up to 2 hours a day.
  • After 2 hours remove tray and brush gel of teeth and tray with a toothbrush (no toothpaste) and dry tray before placing in box. 
  • Try not to drink tea, coffee or red wine or eat berries or curries after treatment for at least 1 month
  • It is advisable not to smoke during the course of whitening treatment, for at least 5-8 weeks.
  • Sensitivity may occur after a few days. This is usually slight and temporary. If this does happen refrain from whitening for a day or two.
  • If sensitivity persists stop whitening and put sensitive toothpaste in the whitening tray instead and wear for a couple of hours or overnight as you would if you were whitening. After a couple of days the sensitivity should have eased and you can resume whitening. You can alternate between sensitive toothpaste and whitening gel each day. This increases the time it takes for the teeth to whiten.
  • When you are happy with the shade of your teeth stop whitening but keep the trays safe. You may wish to top-up in 18-24 months time. More whitening gel can be purchased from the practice.
  • Never leave your whitening trays near a heat source such as on a radiator or near a sunny window. It may cause the trays to warp and distort. Also when you dry your trays before putting them away, don't use a hair dryer!

If you have any problems or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us on 01525 374100