What to Do After a Tooth Extraction?
In preparing for a tooth extraction, anticipate one big thing, pain and controlling that pain.
If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired. This is the most common reason for tooth extraction.
We all know what the processes for tooth extraction are. But do you know how to properly take care of it after the tooth extraction?
Tooth Extraction Care and Aftercare
The care and aftercare of a tooth extraction entails following the five suggestions below:
- Do not rinse your mouth out for 24 hours following a tooth extraction – doing so may cause the blood clot that is sealing the hole and allowing healing to take place longer.
- You should not smoke, use a straw or spit after surgery. These actions can pull the blood clot out of the hole where the tooth was. That causes more bleeding and can lead to a dry socket, which occurs in about 3% to 4% of all extractions. Dry socket occurs 20% to 30% of the time when impacted teeth are removed. It happens more often in smokers and women who take birth control pills. It is also more likely after difficult extractions.
- Only warm, soft foods and drinks are to be taken, and should be kept as far from the extraction hole as possible – Definitely no swishing in the mouth, as the blood clot may be removed or a piece of food may enter the hole and become lodged in causing much pain. You can normally return to a normal diet after 7 days.
- The day following the tooth extraction and for at least the next 5 days, stir a teaspoon of salt into 250 ml – a glass – of warm water until dissolved. Rinse the mouth gently with the salt water and give the salt water a little time to be soaking the tooth extraction point. Use after eating or drinking anything, as it keeps the extraction wound clean and the salt helps to keep the area sterile from germs. Use the salt rinse every night before you go to bed as well.
- You can put ice packs on your face to reduce swelling after the operation. If your jaw is sore and stiff after the swelling goes away, try warm compress.
- Resume good teeth cleaning practices from about 2 days following the tooth extraction, but be careful near the extraction site.