- Changes in color or variations in the appearance of the tissue after laser therapy are normal. Tissues may appear gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, or even stringy as they react to the laser treatment.
- After the procedure, it's important to minimize activity for a few hours.
- You can spit, rinse, and wash your mouth today.
- Please rinse with prescription mouthwash as directed, both morning and night.
- In addition, you can gently rinse with warm salt water every three hours.
- Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that was treated.
- Refrain from eating spicy or excessively hot foods.
- If any medications have been prescribed, make sure to follow the instructions exactly as given.
- Keeping your mouth clean will aid in the healing process, so please brush and floss all areas of your mouth that were not treated as you normally would.
- DO NOT brush or floss the treated area for two weeks following treatment—just rinse!
- Avoid applying excessive pressure from your tongue or cheek to the surgical site.
- It's also normal to experience light bleeding, slight swelling, some soreness or tenderness, sensitivity, or a medicinal taste from the mouth rinse.
- Swelling may occur, so you can apply ice to the outside of your face for 20 minutes every hour. Avoid using an ice pack after the first day.
- Some bleeding and oozing of blood may happen; if this occurs, apply gentle pressure to the area with a wet tea bag. If you experience heavy bleeding, please contact our office.
- Teeth may feel sore or sensitive after treatment. While this can be a normal part of the healing process, it may also indicate a bite imbalance that requires attention.
- Please call our office if you experience any of the following:
- Severe or prolonged pain
- Excessive or prolonged bleeding
- A significantly elevated or persistent temperature.
- Please call our office if you experience any of the following:
- Maintaining proper nutrition and hydration is essential. We encourage you to opt for soft, nutritious foods like eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and ice cream until you’re able to transition back to a regular diet.
- For the first three days, it’s crucial to stick to a liquid diet to aid healing. Anything that can be blended into a drink is acceptable.
- Broth or creamed soups
- Cottage cheese or soft cheeses
- Milkshakes and smoothies (excluding berries with seeds)
- Nutritional drinks like Ensure or Slim-Fast
- Jello, pudding, ice cream, and yogurt
- Avoid using straws, as they can create a vacuum that may disrupt the healing clot.
- For the next four days following treatment, you can eat foods with a mushy consistency, including:
- Cream of wheat or oatmeal
- Mashed or baked potatoes with butter or sour cream
- Mashed bananas, avocados, applesauce, or other blended fruits (except for berries with seeds)
- Mashed steamed vegetables
- Creamy peanut butter (without solid pieces)
- Eggs prepared any way, with or without cheese
- Omelets with cheese or avocado
- Avoid anything hard or crunchy- i.e., chewing gum, candy, cookies, chips, nuts.
- Avoid foods with seeds or hard pieces, such as shreds of meat that can get stuck, as well as raw vegetables and salads.
- After 7 to 10 days post-treatment, you can reintroduce soft foods with a consistency similar to pasta, fish, chicken, or steamed vegetables.
- Gradually, you can return to your regular diet choices. Keep in mind that even after ten days, healing is still in progress. It’s best to continue making healthy food choices and stick with softer foods for at least the first month following treatment.
- For the first three days, it’s crucial to stick to a liquid diet to aid healing. Anything that can be blended into a drink is acceptable.
