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Instructions Following LANAP Laser Therapy

  1. Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearances of tissues following laser therapy. Tissues can be gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, "stringy" and reflect the normal response to laser treatments.
  1. Reduce activity for several hours following the surgery.
  1. Starting the day following surgery, you may spit, rinse and wash your mouth. Rinse as directed with the rinse provided morning and night. In between times, it is OK to rinse gently every three hours with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8 oz. glass of warm water).
  1. Do not chew on the side of your mouth which has been treated. Do not eat spicy or excessively hot foods.
  1. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible in order to help the healing process. Brush, floss and follow the other homecare measures in all the areas of your mouth except for the surgerized area.
  1. Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the surgerized area.
  1. Do not be alarmed if one of the following occurs:
    • Light bleeding
    • Slight swelling
    • Some soreness, tenderness or tooth sensitivity
    • Medicinal taste, from the provided rinse.
  1. If a surgical pack has been placed on the area and a piece of it falls out or the entire pack loosens, do not be alarmed.
  1. Swelling may possibly occur. To keep this at a minimum, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue using the ice pack beyond the day of the surgery.
  1. Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. If excessive bleeding occurs, please call the office.
  1. If medication has been prescribed, please take it exactly as directed.
  1. Please call the office so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
    • Prolonged or severe pain
    • Prolonged or excessive bleeding
    • Considerably elevated or persistent temperature.
  1. Do not be alarmed that beginning with just 2 weeks after therapy and extending as long as 1 year or more, the teeth may become sore, tender or sensitive as the bone and ligaments around the teeth regenerate and become more firm. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of bite imbalance that needs to be adjusted.
  1. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SMOKING FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS. ULTIMATELY THE LONG THE BETTER FOR HEALING.

POST LANAP DIET INSTRUCTIONS

Diet Instructions

  • The first three days following Laser Therapy, follow only a liquid-like diet to allow healing. Anything that could be put into a blender to drink is ideal. The purpose of this is to protect the clot that is acting as a "band-aid" between the gum and the teeth. Do not drink through a straw, as this creates a vacuum in your mouth that can disturb the "band-aid". Take daily vitamins.
  • Next four days after treatment, foods with a "mushy" consistency such as those listed below are recommended.
  • Starting seven to ten days after treatment, "mushy" - soft foods are allowable. Soft foods have the consistency of pasta, fish, chicken or steamed vegetables. You may then, gradually add back your regular diet choices.
  • Please remember that even after ten days, healing is not complete. The first month following treatment you should continue to make smart food choices. Softer foods are better.

"Mushy" Diet Suggestions

DAILY VITAMINS!

Anything put through a food blender
Cream of wheat, oatmeal, malt-o-meal
Mashed potatoes or baked potatoes - okay with butter/sour cream
Mashed banana, mashed avocado, applesauce or any mashed/blended fruit except berries with seeds
Broth or creamed soup
Mashed steamed vegetables
Mashed yams, baked sweet potato or butternut squash
Cottage cheese, cream or soft cheese
Creamy peanut butter without solid pieces
Eggs any style, with or without melted cheese
Omelets can have cheese or avocado
Jell-o, pudding, ice cream, yogurt
Milk shakes/smoothies - OK to blend with fruit except no berries with seeds
Ensure, Slimfast - nutritional drinks

DON'T

Chew gum, candy, cookies, chips, nuts, anything hard or crunchy, anything that has seeds or hard pieces, meat that shreds and can lodge under the gum and between teeth, raw vegetables/salad.

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