Discharge Instructions on How to Care for My Child Teeth After Surgery??

The reason for your dentist is instructing this is that after oral surgery, your mouth needs time to clot and heal. If you suck on anything (sippie or straw) you could pull out the clot that keeps the wound from bleeding, and prolong how long it takes to recover. Luckily, the mouth is one of the fastest things on your body to heal (after the eyes), and so 24 hours will give it enough time to form a solid clot that won't be pulled out and cause the healing process to start over. I would definately not give your son anything that requires pressure or suction for at least 24 hours...and if you can go a little longer, GREAT! Liquids are easier to swallow during this time, and won't scratch or cut the wound so are perfect while he heals.

After 24 hours is fine per your doctor's instructions. The reason they say no straw, sippie or bottle for *at least* 24 hours is the negative pressure created when these are used can cause bleeding.

And honestly, this question should be directed to your son's dentist. He's the one that went to dental school and probably 2 years of specialty school if he is a pediatric dentist. Most of us didn't. I'm only married to a specialty dentist ;)

Sammy Jo is 100% on!
When your son is a teen and the wisdom teeth come out, you will be doing the same thing. Except for the sippie cup part. LOL

No straws, NO carbonated beverages for 48 hours (what we were told for wisdom teeth) to keep the suction from pulling the clots loose.
Those clots are needed for healing.

One of my kids' friends got his wisdom teeth out before T-giving and really wanted a soda on the 2nd day. His parents were at work and he totally blew off the surgeon's instructions (a 16 yr. old, you know) and had a soda. Got dry socket, face swellen like a baloon and he got an infection and missed 3 days of school after T-g break.

I'd just go with the 24 hour thing like he said.. Sounds like he could get dry socket or something (straw/bottle). My 2 yr old can drink from a cup okay if I watch her and help her every now and then so I'm sure he'll be fine til tomorrow... only liquids for a day? You better make a huge dinner tomorrow LOL that little guy's gonna be hungry.

Oh Dori answered my own curiousity... bleeding not dry socket :P