Following your gum grafting surgery, you can expect to feel some discomfort, especially on your palate (the roof of your mouth). The tissue at the graft site may feel tight, and the graft itself will look very red and may go through several color changes as it receives a blood supply and heals.
Please take medications as prescribed. Do NOT take aspirin, as it causes bleeding.
It is normal to experience some bleeding in the first 24-48 hours. If the surgical dressing that was applied to your palate comes off and the area begins to bleed, we recommend placing a moist tea bag to the palate, closing your mouth, and holding the tea bag in place with your tongue. The acid in the tea will help to control the bleeding. If the dressing on the graft begins to come off after a few days, that’s ok.
Follow a soft diet for 7-10 days following treatment. Do NOT eat spicy, crunchy, or hard foods. Cut up your foods and eat them with a fork. Do NOT bit into foods like apples, sandwiches, pizza, bread, etc.
You will be given an appliance called a stent following your surgery. Wear the stent 24 hours a day for 4 days. Take it out only after a 24-hour interval to rinse it. After 4 days, wear the stent only when eating.
After your surgery:
- Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours
- Do not drink using a straw
- Do not brush the graft area until instructed to do so by our periodontist
- Do not pull your lips up or down to look at the graft (this causes your graft to move)
- Keep your tongue away from the graft and your palate
- Do not do any physical work for a few days, including exercise
- Do not participate in recreation activities or sports (running, riding bikes, playing ball, etc.) – if you fall down or get hit in the mouth your graft could fail.
- Get plenty of rest
For more information on post-operative care following soft tissue grafts in Auburn and Grass Valley, California, and to schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Sean P Avera, please call us today at 530-885-0953.
