Patient Instructions and Aftercare
Below are care instructions for your child following common procedures. For any concern that lasts beyond what is described, or if you are unsure, call us at (760) 744-8600. For a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
At San Marcos Kids Dentistry, your child’s comfort and recovery are a priority. The guidelines below help support healing after different types of treatment. Medication suggestions refer to standard children’s pain relievers (such as Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin) given as directed for your child’s age and weight. When in doubt, reach out to our team.
After a Cleaning
Your child may have some tenderness for a day or two after a cleaning, depending on their oral hygiene. If it persists, please call our office. For discomfort, you may give Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for age and weight.
After a Sealant Placement
After a sealant is placed, we check and adjust your child’s bite as needed. The tooth may feel a little different at first. Have your child avoid sticky, crunchy, hard, or candy foods and chewing ice.
After Anesthesia (Numbing)
Monitor your child closely for about two hours after the appointment. A liquid or soft diet is often wise until the numbness wears off. Remind your child not to touch, bite, suck, or play with the numb area, which helps prevent accidental injury to the lip, cheek, or tongue.
After a Filling or Crown
Help your child avoid biting their cheeks, lips, or tongue while numb. Have them avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard foods for a little while. For any sensitivity or discomfort, you may give Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for age and weight. See our fillings and crowns page for more.
After Pulp Treatment (Pulpotomy, Pulpectomy, or Baby Root Canal)
If your child has sensitivity after pulp treatment, you may give Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for age and weight. If sensitivity or discomfort lasts more than 72 hours, please contact our office. Learn more on our pulpotomy and nerve and pulp treatment pages.
After an Extraction
- Have your child avoid rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw
- Keep fingers and tongue away from the area
- If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place slightly moistened cotton gauze firmly over the area and have your child bite down for thirty minutes, repeating until bleeding stops
- Keep to a soft diet for a day or two, or until your child is comfortable eating normally
- Avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day
- For discomfort, use Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for age and weight
If discomfort continues beyond 72 hours, please contact our office. See our tooth extractions page for more.
After a Frenectomy
A frenectomy supports better function for lip- or tongue-tie. Recovery tips:
- For infants and toddlers, offer extra skin-to-skin time, warm baths, and increased nursing or cuddling for comfort
- Wait until numbness is fully gone before eating; avoid straws for the first 48 hours. If eating while still numb, start with cool, soft, spoon-fed foods
- Until the area heals, avoid hard or crunchy foods (chips, popcorn), acidic foods (citrus, vinegar, tomato), and spicy foods
- Resume normal tooth brushing that evening; most normal activity can resume the next day, with swimming and strenuous activity after 48 hours
- Some discomfort, minor discoloration, or bruising can be normal; Children’s Tylenol or ibuprofen may be given every 4 to 6 hours as needed
- For minor swelling, apply insulated ice to the outside of the lip for an upper or lower lip (labial) frenectomy, or offer a popsicle or ice chips under the tongue for a tongue (lingual) frenectomy, for the first 24 hours; then rinse with warm salt water twice a day
- For minor oozing, place folded sterile gauze (or a black tea bag) over the site with moderate pressure for 10 to 15 minutes; repeat if needed. If bleeding persists, call our office at (760) 744-8600
Stretches
Gently manipulating the area helps minimize reattachment when no sutures were placed. Always wash your hands first; gloves are not needed for parents. For an upper or lower lip frenectomy, lift and stretch the lip every few hours starting the evening of treatment. For a tongue frenectomy, begin the stretches your dentist demonstrated that same evening. A common pattern is “3 x 3 x 3”: three stretches (roll, pull, slide), repeated as directed. Always follow the specific exercises prescribed by your dentist and any myofunctional, occupational, or speech therapist.
Sutures
If sutures were placed, wait 3 to 4 days before beginning the prescribed stretching regimen. Do not try to remove sutures yourself; dissolvable sutures typically dissolve on their own within 7 to 10 days. If a suture falls out earlier than 3 to 4 days, follow the “no sutures” stretching guidance above.
See our lip and tongue-tie page for more about frenectomies.
When to Call Us
Contact our office if your child has bleeding that will not stop, pain or sensitivity lasting more than 72 hours, significant swelling, or anything that concerns you. We are here to help. For a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For urgent dental issues, see our dental emergency page.
Questions About Your Child’s Recovery? Call San Marcos
Call San Marcos Kids Dentistry at (760) 744-8600 or request an appointment online. Find our hours and directions on our San Marcos office page.
