Gum surgery recovery Question
Most gum surgery heals at the surface in one to two weeks. Eat soft, cool food for several days, avoid the surgical site when brushing until your periodontist says otherwise, skip straws and smoking, and expect swelling to peak around day two or three.
Step by step
- Day 1: rest, cold packs 20 minutes on and off, soft cool food.
- Days 2 to 3: swelling peaks; warm salt-water rinses if advised.
- Week 1: soft diet; no brushing on the surgical site; stitches checked.
- Week 2: gentle cleaning resumes; most surface healing complete.
- Months: bone and graft tissue mature; results measured at follow-up.
What should I avoid after gum surgery?
- Smoking and vaping.
- Straws and spitting hard, which pull on the site.
- Crunchy, spicy and very hot food.
- Pulling the lip to look at a graft.
- Hard exercise for a few days.
Questions
When can I eat normally?
Most patients return to a normal diet in one to two weeks, chewing away from the site at first.
Sources
Treatment and surgery Read next
Am I a candidate for LANAP?Good candidates for LANAP have moderate to severe periodontitis with pockets of 5 mm or more that remain after deep cleaning, and want to keep their teeth without cutting and stitches.Is laser gum surgery better?Laser gum surgery is usually more comfortable with faster recovery than scalpel flap surgery: no cutting or stitches with LANAP, less bleeding and swelling.
What is the difference between scaling and root planing and a regular cleaning?A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar near the gumline.How painful is a deep cleaning?A deep cleaning is done with local anesthesia that numbs the gums.
Can receding gums grow back?No. Receding gums cannot grow back, and recession cannot be reversed.What are the downsides of a gum graft?The main risks of a gum graft are infection, heavy bleeding and graft failure.