Recovery After Gum Grafting

Although there is some discomfort associated with having a gum grafting procedure in marin county california, we will do everything we can to make your experience as painless as possible. One of the most effective methods for minimizing your discomfort is through the administration of a local anesthetic. The level of pain you experience will also vary depending upon what type of gum graft you have performed. If no tissue is removed from your palate, you will likely not experience much discomfort; however, if tissue is removed, you should plan on some mild discomfort following the procedure.

Once your surgery is complete, and the anesthesia wears off after a few hours, you may begin to experience discomfort. It is common to also have some swelling for the first few days following your gum graft. To help alleviate this discomfort, we may recommend over the counter pain relief medication, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. We may also recommend antibiotics if we are concerned you are at risk of developing an infection.

The Recovery Process

It is common to experience some pain and swelling following your gum grafting procedure. Fortunately, the recovery process is not long. The time of your recovery will depend in large part on how well you follow post-operative care instructions.

Patients who have tissue removed from their palate can expect the area to be sore for around 7-10 days. Patients whose graft was from a tissue bank will likely experience discomfort or 2-4 days. To help manage your pain during this recovery period, it may help to take OTC pain relieving medication, such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Although most people can go back to work the next day or two following the procedure, it is important to avoid aerobic activity for at least one week.

Although part of the healing process is simply a waiting game, there are some things you can do to help reduce your discomfort, and more importantly, reduce the likelihood of additional complications from occurring. Following your procedure, be sure to keep the following in mind:

• To help reduce and eliminate the bleeding, place gauze on the site, being careful not to place the gauze on top of the site, but rather to the side
• Avoid strenuous activities for 24 hours
• Do not pull out your lip to try to see the wound
• Do not brush or use mouthwash for 24 hours
• Do not put your tongue in the area
• Avoid hot drinks and foods for two to three days and follow a soft food diet for the first week, slowly reintroducing harder foods little by little
• Avoid brushing the site for one month. When you do resume brushing that area, be sure to use a soft bristle toothbrush and use gentle movements

The first week or two of your recovery process, you should plan on sticking to a soft food diet. It will also be important to avoid foods that are too hot or too cold. Chewing may be a bit difficult during this time, but you will eventually return back to normal.

While sticking to a soft food diet is important, the quality of the foods you eat are almost as important as the type. According to recent studies, patients who receive certain nutrients during the recovery period recover much faster. For example, patients who have sufficient Vitamin D typically experience reduced inflammation, which speeds up the healing time.

If you follow these best practices, you should be healed and enjoying your bright new smile in no time!

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