Aftercare Advice, Broughty Ferry

Caring for Your Mouth Once Treatment Is Done

Q: I've lost or cracked an Invisalign aligner. What now?

Ring us the same day and we'll tell you which set to wear while we sort it out. That generally means going back to the previous aligners or moving ahead to the next pair a little early, and if the gap is too wide a replacement is ordered. Hold on to all your old sets until we say otherwise; they're your safety net. Whatever you do, don't go without, as teeth can begin moving within days.

If you've had treatment with us on Brook Street and want to know whether what you're feeling is normal, this page gathers the advice we give in the surgery, treatment by treatment: what to expect, what to steer clear of, and the warning signs that mean you should ring. During opening hours call 01382 477350; outside them, phone NHS 24 on 111.What to expect after treatment, what to steer clear of, and when to call 01382 477350. Out of hours, NHS 24 on 111.

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This is general advice for adults. Where your own dentist told you something different, their instructions come first. Always take medicines exactly as the label directs.

Is This Normal, or Should I Ring?

After most dental treatment, discomfort reaches its worst within a day or two and then fades. What matters is the direction of travel rather than the level of pain: improving each day is fine, getting worse each day is not.

Generally normal	A few days of tenderness, slight swelling, a little oozing on day one, brief twinges with cold
Ring us during opening hours	Pain still building after the third day, a bite that feels too high, anything loose or fallen off, a nasty taste that lingers
When we're closed	NHS 24 on 111, for whatever can't wait until we reopen
A&E or 999	Swelling that interferes with breathing or swallowing, bleeding that pressure won't control, or feeling really unwell with a fever

Following an Extraction

Bite steadily on the gauze for thirty minutes. If it's still oozing, swap in a fresh damp piece and bite for another 20 minutes.

Rest for the remainder of the day, and prop your head up with an extra pillow overnight

Don't disturb the socket for 24 hours: no rinsing, spitting, straws, smoking, vaping, hot drinks or alcohol. Healing starts with the clot that forms there.

From the second day, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals, for roughly a week

Eat soft food for a few days, chewing well clear of the socket

Following a wisdom tooth or surgical extraction, swelling and a stiff jaw are expected, peaking on day two or three

Call us if the bleeding won't stop with pressure, or if a deep, throbbing ache begins between days three and five and painkillers make no difference. That may be dry socket, which we can dress for you.

Following Implant Surgery

Press a wrapped ice pack against your cheek in ten-minute spells, on and off, for the first few hours

Stick to cool, soft food for a week, eaten on the other side; avoid anything crunchy, seedy or piping hot

Don't rinse on the first day. Afterwards, use warm salt water following meals, and from day two brush gently around the stitches with a soft brush

Don't smoke at all: it's among the biggest reasons an implant fails to fuse with the bone

Skip the gym, running and heavy lifting for 48 hours

After IV sedation, an adult must stay with you, and there's no driving, drinking or signing important documents for 24 hours

Call us if the swelling keeps growing beyond day three, you run a temperature, or either the implant or the temporary tooth feels wobbly. Our surgery day guide takes you through the first two weeks.

Following a Filling

Wait until the numbness has worn off before eating, or you risk biting your lip without realising. A numb mouth can be scalded by hot drinks too.

A white filling is completely hard before you leave the chair, so once sensation returns you can eat as usual

A week or two of sensitivity to sweet or cold things is normal, particularly after a deep filling

If the filling is the first thing your teeth touch when you close, it's sitting a touch high. Pop back and we'll adjust it in minutes.

Keep brushing and cleaning between your teeth from the same day

Call us if the tooth becomes more sensitive rather than less, aches for no reason, or disturbs your sleep.

Following Root Canal Treatment

Expect the tooth to feel bruised on biting for a few days; ibuprofen or paracetamol taken regularly usually deals with it

Treat it gently until the permanent restoration is in place, especially while only a temporary filling is protecting it

Should the temporary come out, phone us, as the inside of the tooth must stay sealed

Back teeth that have been root-filled turn brittle. Where we've recommended a crown or onlay, book it promptly, before a crack develops.

Call us if swelling develops, or if the pain is worsening after three or four days instead of easing.

Crowns, Bridges and Veneers

With a temporary in place: avoid toffee and chewing gum, eat on the other side, and slide floss out sideways instead of pulling it upwards

After the permanent one goes in, eat normally as soon as the numbness fades

It's normal for it to feel slightly odd or sensitive for a few days; your tongue adjusts quickly

Clean beneath a bridge daily using superfloss or a small interdental brush

Grinders and clenchers should wear their night guard to protect the new work

Call us if the bite doesn't feel right, the temporary falls off, or anything feels loose.

Following Composite Bonding

The composite is set hard with a light before you leave, so you can eat and drink immediately

For the first 48 hours, go easy on tea, coffee, red wine, curry and anything else deeply coloured while the surface settles

Never bite into apples, crusty rolls or your fingernails with bonded edges

Stick to an ordinary fluoride toothpaste; whitening and charcoal pastes are abrasive and scratch composite

We'll see you again about two weeks later to refine how your teeth meet and give the surface a final polish

Call us if a tooth feels too high or an edge chips. There's more in our bonding care guide.

While Whitening at Home

A tiny dot of gel per tooth is enough; any more simply ends up on your gums. Wipe away whatever squeezes out.

Keep the trays in for the time we prescribed and no longer

Twinges are to be expected. If they're sharp, skip a night and use a sensitive toothpaste.

Dark food and drink, and smoking, work against the gel: keep them to a minimum throughout the course and for 48 hours afterwards

Look after your trays. An occasional top-up maintains the shade.

Call us if your gums become sore or develop white patches. Our guide to whitening sensitivity explains why it happens.

Following a Hygiene Visit or Gum Treatment

After a deep clean, gums may be tender and bleed a little, and teeth may react to cold, for several days. It settles.

Carry on cleaning between your teeth just as your hygienist or dentist showed you. The daily routine at home is what really counts.

If you had an anaesthetic, eat soft food until sensation returns, then use warm salt-water rinses for a few days

Arrange your next hygiene appointment before leaving; gum disease stays under control when it's reviewed regularly

Call us if soreness continues past a week, or a single tooth becomes acutely sensitive.

During Invisalign Treatment

Your aligners should be in for 20 to 22 hours of every day. Take them out only to eat and to drink anything other than plain water.

Brush your teeth before putting them back. Wash the aligners with a soft brush in cool water, since hot water distorts them.

Each new set brings a day or two of pressure; any slight lisp usually disappears within a week

Keep your previous set until we confirm it can go

Call us the same day if an aligner is lost or cracked, or an attachment comes away. We'll tell you whether to go back a set or move forward.

Sensible Pain Relief

After dental treatment, most adults manage perfectly well with paracetamol or ibuprofen at the dose printed on the box. Ibuprofen has the added benefit of reducing swelling, though it isn't right for everyone, including some people who have asthma, kidney disease or stomach ulcers, and during pregnancy. A pharmacist can advise if you're not sure.

For the first day or two, take painkillers at regular intervals rather than waiting until the ache builds up. Don't ever place a tablet against the gum. If the stated dose isn't keeping the pain under control, phone us; don't take extra.

Outside Opening Hours

We're open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm. Closed at weekends. If your problem can't wait until we're open again, ring NHS 24 on 111. They'll assess you by phone and, where you need seeing, organise an urgent NHS dental appointment.

Facial swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, or bleeding that won't stop with pressure, means A&E or 999 without delay. If it can wait, call us as soon as we open on the next working day, or book one of our same-day emergency appointments.

Common Questions

What patients phone us about most often.

What is dry socket, and how can I avoid it?+

How long does it take to heal after a tooth extraction?+

How soon after a filling can I eat?+

Do I need someone to collect me after sedation?+

What's the best way to care for a dental implant?+

I've lost or cracked an Invisalign aligner. What now?+

Is gum treatment painful?+

Guides

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Not Sure? Just Call

A web page can't look in your mouth. If something doesn't seem right after treatment, a short phone call beats a sleepless night of worry.

Call 01382 477350Same-day emergency appointments