If you want a holiday as well, take it before treatment, not after surgery. After an extraction or implant surgery, NHS aftercare advice is to rest, avoid alcohol and smoking, and eat soft food for a few days.
We found no official guidance on swimming or sun after dental surgery. Ask the clinic for written instructions for your treatment.
What NHS aftercare advice says
An NHS community dental service leaflet on mouth care after surgery gives this advice after a tooth is removed:
- On the day
- Rest. Bite on the pack for 15 minutes to stop bleeding, and do not poke the wound.
- First 24 hours
- Do not rinse your mouth or spit, as this can cause more bleeding.
- From the next day
- Rinse gently with warm salty water up to four times a day and after eating, for seven days.
- First two to three days
- Avoid very hot, cold, spicy, sharp or crunchy food.
- Alcohol
- Avoid it, because it can cause bleeding.
- Smoking
- Do not smoke for a few days. It can cause infection and slow healing.
- Activity
- Avoid lots of physical activity.
Implant surgery and bone grafts can need more care for longer. Follow the instructions of the dentist who treated you.
Where the evidence runs out
- Swimming and the sea. We found no NHS or official guidance on swimming after dental surgery. Pools and the sea are not sterile, and diving or holding your breath under water changes pressure in the mouth. Ask the clinic when you can swim.
- Sun and heat. We found no official guidance. Drink plenty of water, especially if you are taking painkillers or antibiotics, and ask the clinic about any medicine that makes skin sensitive to sun.
- Flying. There is some evidence on this. See flying after treatment.
How to plan the trip
- Holiday days first.Put sightseeing, beach days and excursions before the first appointment.
- Treatment in the middle.Keep the days after surgery free and close to the clinic.
- Checks at the end.Leave a few days with no plans before the flight, so that a problem can be seen.
- Get it in writing.Ask for aftercare instructions on swimming, sun, alcohol and exercise for your treatment, in a language you read well.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink alcohol on holiday after veneers?
Veneers and crowns are not usually surgery, so the advice above is mainly about extractions and implants. Ask the clinic, especially if teeth were prepared or you have temporary veneers.
What if I get pain or bleeding at the hotel?
Contact the clinic. In an emergency call 112. The Ministry of Health's international patient line, +90 850 288 38 38, can help with interpreting.