Care of the Mouth after Local Anesthetic

• If the procedure was in the lower jaw the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
• If the procedure was in the upper jaw the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
• Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek.  These actions can cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue.
• Monitor your child closely for approximately two hours following the appointment.   It is often wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.
• Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions.

Care of the Mouth after Extractions

• Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep.  The child should be watched closely so he/she does not injure his/her lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.
• Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
• Do not spit excessively.
• Do not eat/drink hot things
• Do not drink a carbonated beverage (Coke, Sprite, etc.) for the remainder of the day.
• Do not drink through a straw.
• Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area.
• Bleeding – See above
• Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
• Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for several hours after the extraction.
• Pain – For discomfort use Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the weight of the child.  If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the bottle.
• Please do not hesitate to contact the office if there are any questions.