After Your Visit

Taking Care of Your Mouth

Dentist visits are just one part of the puzzle when it comes to optimal oral health, which means sticking to daily dental habits and following procedures laid out by your dentist post-procedure, are crucial.

• After a cleaning: A thorough cleaning can sometimes cause tenderness due to swelling of the gums. If you or your child is experiencing discomfort, we recommend a warm saltwater rinse twice a day for 2-3 days post-appointment. You can also use Children’s Tylenol or Advil as directed to minimize pain.
• After local anesthetic: Numbness is normal after this treatment, but can be challenging for children to understand. Please monitor your child to ensure they aren’t scratching, chewing, or sucking on the affected areas, as this can cause swelling or cuts. We also recommend avoiding hard foods until the anesthetic has worn off, which can take up to 3 hours in some instances.
• After sedation: Because of the nature of sedation, you or your child will be incredibly drowsy—which means the individual will need to be monitored for their safety after the appointment. If your child would like to sleep after the service, make sure they are on their side with their chin up. Additionally, wake them up every hour or so and encourage them to drink something to prevent dehydration. We will send you home with post-operative instructions, so you can feel confident after your appointment.

Do’s & Don’ts After an Orthodontic Visit

For orthodontic treatment to be effective, it is crucial that the patient takes an active role in their own care. This means it is important to follow the recommendations laid out by the staff.

Do:

• Prioritize your oral health, which means brushing and flossing as instructed, wearing your appliances as directed, and wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.
• Change out your elastics as frequently as assigned by your doctor.
• Regularly schedule cleanings and keep your dental appointments as consistent as possible.
• Once your braces come off, wear your retainer consistently.

Don’t:

• Eat or drink anything damaging, including gum, hard candy, sticky foods, hard-to-bite foods, and soda or other sugary drinks.
• Bite on pens or fingernails, or anything that isn’t food.
• Ignore damage to braces or if anything is hurting or poking you.

Our team is with you throughout every step of your oral health journey, give us a call to learn more about how we can help. Dial (603) 635-4173 or fill out our online form.