Cold packs vs. anti-inflammatories after gum grafts - what worked for you?

My kid had a gum graft a few months ago and I was super nervous about the swelling too. We did the ice packs on and off for the first day, but I was hesitant about giving too much ibuprofen - just worried about stomach upset. Did anyone get told by their dentist to avoid ibuprofen? I keep hearing mixed things about whether it slows healing. I’m curious if anyone’s surgeon said anything different?

Did anyone get told by their dentist to avoid ibuprofen? I keep hearing mixed things about whether it slows healing.

I totally get where you’re coming from. After my gum graft, I was told to use Tylenol instead of ibuprofen for a couple days - my surgeon said something about anti-inflammatories possibly affecting healing, but honestly, it was all a blur. I worried about stomach issues too, so I mostly stuck with ice packs and gentle foods. The swelling looked scary, but it did go down after a few days. It’s stressful trying to make the right call when everyone says something different.

my surgeon said something about anti-inflammatories possibly affecting healing, but honestly, it was all a blur

That’s interesting - I had a similar convo with my periodontist. He said ibuprofen can sometimes slow down the initial healing of soft tissue, but also that it’s not a huge deal unless you’re taking it constantly. I ended up alternating Tylenol and cold packs, mostly because I wanted to avoid stomach issues too. The swelling was rough for a few days, but honestly, the ice helped more than I expected. I do wish there was more consistency in what dentists recommend though... it gets confusing.

He said ibuprofen can sometimes slow down the initial healing of soft tissue, but also that it’s not a huge deal unless you’re taking it constantly.

That lack of consistency from dentists is honestly what confused me most after my graft, too. I remember the nurse saying “just ice, no ibuprofen,” and then my discharge papers said the opposite. I ended up using ice packs almost nonstop the first 48 hours because the swelling was pretty intense, and I felt like it brought the puffiness down way more than meds did. Pain-wise, Tylenol was enough for me. I was nervous about anti-inflammatories messing with healing, so I played it safe. It’s wild how different the advice can be though, even within the same office.