Why you should listen to your dentist after treatment

When you walk out of the dentist after your treatment, your dentist will usually give you a list of instructions. It might be tempting to ignore this advice, after all your dental problem is already fixed. But it’s important that you pay close attention because ignoring dental advice after a treatment can lead to a poor outcome and even ongoing problems.

What to Expect After a Procedure

The first thing your dentist will tell you is what to expect after your dental treatment. This can obviously vary depending on the type and complexity of the treatment you had. Here is some common advice you’ll hear after treatments and what could happen if you ignore it:

Expect some pain, but not too much.

According to Dr. Amrinder Oberoi from Paramount Dental Sydney, you should expect some pain or discomfort after certain treatments, “If you go to the dentist with lots of infections or damage, it doesn’t just go away magically. You can expect some pain and discomfort for a few days at least.”

However, if the pain is excessive or lasts for longer than a few days, it could be a sign that something’s wrong. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist for advice. It’s better to be wrong than to ignore the issue and find out later that there’s a serious problem.

Wait until the numbing anaesthetic has worn off before you eat or drink.

Don’t ignore this advice. As Dr. Oberoi says, “We hear a lot of stories about people chewing through their lips or tongue because they can’t feel it.” So, make sure your mouth is completely back to normal before you try to eat or drink anything.

Take painkillers if necessary.

Don’t try to tough it out until the pain goes away on its own. If your dentist tells you to take painkillers or ibuprofen, then it’s for good reason. Pain does more than make you uncomfortable, it also depresses your immune system and slows down healing. So, if your dentist tells you to take painkillers, then make sure you take them.

Advice After Common Dental Treatments

Your dentist will also give you more specific advice after particular dental treatments. These aftercare instructions are designed to speed up healing and ensure the best outcome possible. If you ignore this advice, it could lead to some very serious issues. Here are some problems that can occur when you ignore aftercare instructions after some very common dental procedures:

After a Filling.

You mustn’t eat for at least an hour after your filling to allow it to harden fully. If you ignore this advice, you could dislodge the filling, which will cause pain and result in another trip to your dentist and another filling procedure.

After a tooth extraction.

When you have a tooth extracted, your dentist will tell you to avoid hot drinks and food and mouth rinses for at least 24 hours. If you don’t follow this advice, it could dislodge the blood clot at the site and cause additional bleeding.

After teeth whitening.

Teeth whitening will give you a great smile, but it will also make your teeth more likely to pick up stains for a while. That’s why your dentist will tell you to avoid dark coloured foods and drinks for a while after your procedure. Otherwise, you’ll end up with teeth that are stained worse than they were before you had them whitened.

After a root canal.

If your dentist prescribes antibiotics, make sure you take them even if your teeth and mouth feel fine. Lingering infection can be present in the gum without obvious signs, which is why you need to take antibiotics for longer than you think to make sure your mouth is completely healthy.