Following gum surgery, a periodontal dressing, or pack, that can harden and protect the area is placed over the gums and left there for about seven to 14 days. This acts as a bandage which protects the soft tissue and makes the patients feel more comfortable. Patients are asked to avoid spicy and crunchy foods and to instead eat a soft diet. Patients may receive prescriptions for pain medication and mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine (an antimicrobial agent) to prevent infection during the healing period. Prolonged use of chlorhexidine can stain teeth, but this discoloration comes off with a routine cleaning.

Patients typically are instructed not to brush or floss in the affected area until after the periodontal pack is removed. Patients should continue to brush and floss other areas of the mouth. Following the dressing removal, gentle brushing and flossing of the area may be allowed. These tissues may bleed at first, but gums begin to look normal within a month and are completely healed within two to three months.

The use of tobacco is not advised following gum surgery. Smoking and other forms of tobacco use can interfere with the healing process, as well as contribute to additional oral health problems.

Patients who have a soft-tissue graft may feel discomfort at the donor site in the palate where the tissue was removed, similar to a burn from hot food. The pain can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.

Patients who have gingival flap surgery or crown lengthening may experience swelling, which can usually be relieved with an ice pack placed outside the mouth in the affected area. Even if a dressing (bandage) is not placed on the area following gingival flap surgery, the periodontist may want to reexamine the area within a week to 10 days after the procedure. Patients undergoing crown lengthening may need to return to the dental office within 7 to 10 days for suture removal, and again for a follow-up visit four to six weeks later.

Patients who need an artificial crown following crown-lengthening surgery may need to wait up to three months after the lengthening procedure. This gives the gums time to shrink as they heal. Waiting until healing is completed helps ensure that the margins of the crown do not show after it is placed on the tooth.