POST-SCALING AND ROOT PLANING INSTRUCTIONS

• Discomfort should not be severe. If needed, please take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Aleve). Avoid aspirin or aspirin products which may involve bleeding.

• Use warm saline rinses (8 oz. Glass of water to 1 teaspoon salt) for the first 24 to 48 hours to heal and soothe the tissues.

• There may be slight tenderness and bleeding upon the first few brushings and flossings, but please brush and floss the areas gently but thoroughly so as to induce healing through thorough plaque control.

Brushing - Always use a soft bristle toothbrush. Place it at the gumline, keep it in place, move it in a circular motion for 7 to 8 seconds and then brush away from the gumline. Remember to brush your tongue. Brushing the entire mouth should take approximately two minutes. Use of mechanical brushes is also recommended.

Flossing - Take an arms length of floss and wrap around your middle fingers. Using your index finger and thumb, start around the backside of the last tooth in your mouth. Wrap the floss around the tooth so that it forms a “C” shape (this way you are making full contact with the side of the tooth). Slip it down along the side of the tooth so it slides into the gum “pocket” and down along the root of the tooth. When you feel resistance, stop, you’ve reached the base of the “pocket”. Now, keeping the floss in it’s “C” shape wrapped around the root, wipe away form the gumline so as to lift any plaque along the side of the root and tooth off of the surface and out of the gum “pocket”. Wipe away from the gum “pocket” 2 to 3 times. Taking a clean segment of floss, move to the next side of the tooth where you gently slide the floss back and forth to slip it down below the contact area (the area where one tooth abuts it’s neighbor tooth) and then repeat wrapping the floss in a “C” shape sliding it into the “pocket” along the tooth so as to cleanse the side of the root as well as the tooth. Continue flossing all sides of all roots and teeth, continually using a clean segment of floss as you go.

• Remember, many periodontally destructive organisms prefer to live on the root surfaces, so please cleanse this area well.

• After the initial 48 hours post-treatment, an antimicrobial mouth rinse such as Listerine (diluted 1/3 with water) may be used as directed.

Diet - For the initial 24 to 36 hours we suggest no spicy food or foods such as hard, crusty bread, tortilla chips, or raw vegetables so as not to traumatize the tissue as it is healing. No orange juice or acidic drinks such as.
• If an injection was given, be very careful while the area remains anesthetized. Do not drink hot drinks or soups until the sensation has returned, so as not to burn the inside of the mouth. Be careful also, not to chew the inside of the cheek, lip or tongue.

• The teeth may be slightly cold or sweet sensitive post operatively. Let the hygienist know and we may prescribe a desensitizing agent for you.

• If a small white “pimple” appears on the tissue or if you have any questions please give us a call (781) 237-7400.