What to do if…
you have sudden worsening pain, redness, or discharge after a recent procedure or dental work

What to do now

1. Check for emergency signs. Call 999 or go to A&E now if you have:
   • trouble breathing or swallowing, drooling, or a feeling that your throat is tightening
   • rapidly increasing swelling of the mouth, face, throat, or neck
   • swelling affecting an eye or your vision
   • blue, grey, pale, or blotchy skin, new confusion, slurred speech, severe breathlessness, or you feel suddenly much worse
   • heavy bleeding from a dental site or wound that does not stop with the pressure or steps in your aftercare instructions
2. Contact the right service for same-day advice:
   • After surgery or a medical procedure, call the post-op number on your discharge paperwork, such as the ward, clinic, day-surgery unit, specialist nurse line, or on-call service.
   • After dental work, contact your dentist or oral surgeon. If you cannot reach them promptly, use NHS 111 online or phone 111 for urgent dental advice.
   • If you cannot reach any treating team and this is not dental, use NHS 111 for urgent advice on where to be seen.
3. Say the key warning words clearly: “My pain is getting worse after a recent procedure or dental work, and I have redness, swelling, or discharge.” Add whether you have fever, chills, shaking, spreading redness, a bad smell or taste, or swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or neck.
4. Gather the details before you speak to someone:
   • what procedure or dental work you had, the date, and where it was done
   • where the pain, redness, swelling, or discharge is
   • whether the redness or swelling is spreading and how quickly
   • the colour, amount, smell, or taste of any discharge
   • your temperature if you can check it
   • all medicines you are taking, including antibiotics, painkillers, blood thinners, and any allergies
5. Keep the area as safe as possible while arranging care:
   • follow your written aftercare instructions unless a clinician tells you otherwise
   • wash your hands before touching near a wound or dressing
   • keep any dressing clean and dry unless you were told to change it
   • avoid poking a dental site with fingers, tongue, toothpicks, or cotton buds
   • avoid smoking or vaping after dental work, especially after an extraction
6. Lower your threshold for urgent help if you are at higher risk. Seek same-day advice if you are immunosuppressed, have diabetes that is not well controlled, have a prosthetic heart valve or a serious heart condition, are pregnant, or the procedure involved an implant, prosthesis, or implanted device.