Nosht
Post-operative

After Your Bone Grafting Procedure

Bone grafting is surgery that needs careful aftercare. This guide explains how to protect the graft and help it heal.

6 min read

Urgent help: who to contact

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye, or if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction (such as swollen lips, tongue or throat).

Contact your dental team straight away if you have heavy bleeding that will not stop, severe pain that your prescribed medicine does not control, swelling that gets worse after day 4, a temperature above 38°C, or if you can see graft material falling out or the wound opening up. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.

What Has Been Done and Why Aftercare Matters

In bone grafting, a graft material is placed where bone has been lost. The material may be man-made, from a donor, or from your own body. The graft acts as a frame (scaffold) for your own bone to grow into over the coming months.

The graft needs protecting while it starts to heal. It can fail if it is disturbed. This can happen if you eat the wrong foods, rinse too hard or do not keep the area clean. Please follow these instructions closely.

  • Expect a lot of swelling. It is usually worst on day 2–3. It then slowly goes down over 5–10 days.
  • Expect bruising to appear on day 2–4. It will fade over 1–2 weeks.
  • Stitches usually dissolve and go away within 2–3 weeks. You may have a follow-up appointment to check the wound.
  • In the first few days, you may sometimes find small graft particles in your mouth. This is not always a cause for worry, but contact your dental team to be sure.

The First 24 Hours

The first 24 hours are the most important time for protecting the graft and the blood clot.

  • Do not rinse, spit or use a straw.
  • Hold ice packs on the outside of your face to bring swelling down. Use them for 10–15 minutes on, then 10–15 minutes off.
  • Keep your head raised. Use extra pillows when resting or sleeping.
  • Take all prescribed medicines (antibiotics and painkillers) as directed. Start them as soon as you get home.
  • Eat soft foods only. Do not eat anything that needs chewing near the surgery area. Cold or room-temperature foods are best today.
  • Do not disturb the wound. Do not touch it with your tongue or fingers.
  • Do not smoke.

Pain Relief

Bone grafting is a big operation. Pain can be worse than after a simple tooth removal, but it can be managed well.

  • For the first 2–3 days, take prescribed painkillers at regular times. Do not wait for the pain to become severe.
  • Ibuprofen reduces both pain and swelling (inflammation). This is very helpful after bone grafting. Only take it if it was prescribed or is suitable for you. Avoid it if you take blood-thinning medicines, have stomach problems or are pregnant.
  • Paracetamol (adults): take 500mg to 1g (1 or 2 × 500mg tablets). Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 4g (8 × 500mg tablets) in 24 hours. If you weigh less than 50kg, you may need a lower dose. Ask a pharmacist.
  • Ibuprofen (adults): take 200mg to 400mg up to 3 times a day, with or after food. Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 1,200mg in 24 hours, unless your dentist or doctor has prescribed a different dose.
  • You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time, or spread them out through the day. Never take more than the daily maximum of either.
  • Do not take paracetamol with other medicines that contain paracetamol, unless your dental team or doctor has told you to. These include co-codamol, co-dydramol and cold and flu remedies. Taking both can cause an accidental overdose.
  • Check with a pharmacist, dentist or doctor before you take ibuprofen if you have asthma, have had a stomach ulcer, have heart, kidney or liver problems, take blood-thinning medicines, or are pregnant.
  • Children: use children's paracetamol or ibuprofen. Give the dose on the packet or leaflet for your child's age (and weight, if given). Ask a pharmacist if you are not sure. Ibuprofen may not be suitable if your child has asthma.
  • Painkillers with codeine in them (such as co-codamol) can make you sleepy. Do not drive or use machines if you feel sleepy. It is against the law to drive if a medicine affects your driving. Avoid alcohol while you take them.
  • Pain should slowly ease from day 3–4. If pain is getting worse after day 4, contact your dental team.

Eating, Drinking and Keeping Clean

Food and drink (first 2 weeks):

  • Eat very soft foods, such as yoghurt, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, soft soup, smoothies and soft fish. Your dental team can give you a separate Soft Food Guide leaflet with more ideas.
  • Do not chew near the graft for at least 2–4 weeks, or as your dental team advises.
  • Avoid hot, hard, crunchy, sticky or spicy foods.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Avoid alcohol while you take antibiotics, and for 48 hours after surgery.

Keeping your mouth clean:

  • Day 1: do not rinse, brush near the area or disturb the wound in any way.
  • Day 2 onwards: rinse gently with warm salty water after every meal. Use half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Let the rinse fall out of your mouth. Do not swish or spit hard.
  • If you were prescribed a chlorhexidine (antiseptic) mouthwash, use it as directed.
  • Brush all your other teeth carefully. Keep away from the graft for 1–2 weeks. Your dental team will tell you when to start cleaning around it.
  • Do not use an electric toothbrush near the area for at least 2 weeks.

Things You Must Avoid

These things can make the graft fail:

  • Smoking hugely increases the risk of the graft failing and of infection. Do not smoke for at least 2 weeks before and after surgery. Ideally, stop for good.
  • Wearing a denture over the graft, unless your dental team has approved it and adjusted it.
  • Rinsing hard, spitting or using a straw, mostly in the first week.
  • Hard exercise for at least 3–5 days.
  • Touching or poking the wound.
  • Any contact sport or activity that could cause a blow to the face, for several weeks.

When to Contact Your Dental Team

Contact your dental team quickly if you have:

  • Heavy bleeding that does not stop with 30–45 minutes of firm pressure
  • Severe pain that your prescribed medicine does not control
  • Swelling that is getting worse after day 4
  • A temperature above 38°C
  • The wound opening up, or a lot of graft material showing or falling out
  • Pus or discharge from the wound
  • Numbness that lasts beyond 6 hours after surgery

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye. For other urgent problems, contact your dental practice. If it is closed, call NHS 111.

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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