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Care tips & aftercare
Everyday habits for healthy teeth, signs you shouldn't ignore, and what to do after your treatment.
Dental care tips
Small habits, healthy teeth
Most dental problems are easier, quicker and cheaper to treat when they're caught early.
Signs you shouldn't ignore
- Toothache that lasts more than a day
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
- A tooth that has turned dark or discoloured
- Bad breath that doesn't go away with brushing
- A loose tooth in an adult
Everyday habits
- Brush twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or a flosser
- Get a professional cleaning every 6 months
- Keep sweets and sugary drinks to mealtimes
- Change your toothbrush every 3 months
- Bring children for their first check-up by age 1
Aftercare
After your treatment
Keep this handy at home. Always follow any specific instructions the doctor gives you.
Do
- Bite firmly on the gauze for 30–45 minutes.
- Eat soft, cool food on the first day.
- From the next day, rinse gently with warm salt water 3–4 times a day.
- Take medicines exactly as prescribed.
Avoid
- Spitting, rinsing or using a straw for 24 hours.
- Smoking, gutkha or any tobacco for at least 3 days.
- Hot food and drinks on the first day.
- Touching the area with your tongue or fingers.
Call the clinic if
- Bleeding hasn't stopped after a few hours of gauze pressure.
- Pain or swelling gets worse after day 3.
- You get a fever.
- Numbness lasts beyond the same day.
Do
- Wait until the numbness wears off (2–3 hours) before eating.
- Chew on the other side until your final crown or filling is done.
- Take medicines exactly as prescribed.
- Complete all your visits and get the crown fitted.
Avoid
- Biting hard food, like nuts, hard chikki or ice, on the treated tooth.
- Delaying the final crown. A root-canal-treated tooth can crack without it.
Call the clinic if
- Your face or gums swell.
- Pain is severe or getting worse after 2–3 days.
- The temporary filling falls out.
- Your bite feels high when you close your teeth.
Do
- Brush after every meal, carefully around each bracket.
- Clean between wires with an interdental brush.
- Keep your adjustment visits every 4–6 weeks.
- Wear elastics or appliances exactly as told.
Avoid
- Hard foods: whole nuts, ice, hard chikki. Cut corn off the cob instead of biting into it.
- Sticky foods: toffee and chewing gum.
- Biting nails, pens or pencils.
Call the clinic if
- A bracket comes loose.
- A wire pokes your cheek. Cover it with orthodontic wax until your visit.
- An appliance breaks or feels loose.