How long should you ice after oral surgery?

Use ice. Apply ice packs to your face for 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off to keep swelling down. Eat soft foods. Stick to a liquid or soft food diet for the few days after surgery.

Can I use ice pack after tooth extraction?

Swelling: apply ice packs to face in area of extraction for 30 minutes on, then 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours following surgery. After the first 24 hours, discontinue ice and use a heating pad or moist heat compress to bring the swelling down. Bruising: Bruising may occur around the head and neck.

How long should you use ice packs after wisdom teeth removal?

A zipper lock bag filled with ice, or ice pack should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. If continuous use is uncomfortable, then use it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Apply the ice continuously as much as possible for the first 36 hours.

Swelling is a common after effect of oral surgery. Swelling often peaks two to three days following a procedure and can be a very uncomfortable part of the recovery process. Although you can’t prevent this bodily reaction, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce swelling and decrease discomfort after oral surgery.

For the first 24 hours following oral surgery, cold ice packs or compresses should be used to manage swelling and pain. Wrap a few cubes of ice, an ice pack, or even a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel so that the cold will not be in direct contact with your skin. Hold the cold source against the outside of your face, nearest to where the surgery occurred, and keep it there for 15 minutes. You should follow a cycle of 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. If you had a surgery involving more than one area of the mouth (for example, if you had wisdom teeth on both sides of your mouth removed), you can use the 15-minute cycles to alternate between the two swollen areas. Cold therapy becomes less effective after 24 hours, and the next step of reducing swelling is to switch to heat.