What to do after a tooth extraction?

For some people dealing with what happens after pulling a tooth can be stressful. But by following what your dentist instructs you to do after tooth extraction process, you won’t have any stress and worries.

Why tooth extraction is done?

There are many reasons for pulling a tooth. Saving even one natural tooth is the first principle of any dentist. There are situations, but, teeth are so severely decayed or damaged that can’t be called tooth anymore. A dentist comes to the point of extracting a tooth in cases of when:

• tooth or teeth are completely worn down due to decay and can’t be restored
• tooth is so seriously damaged because of trauma or maybe accident that dentist sees that as unrestorable
• tooth is infected and has caused damages to the pulp and nerves that even root canal treatment doesn’t bring back the tooth
• crowded teeth in the mouth and too many teeth don’t make enough room for normal eruption of teeth and interrupt orthodontic treatment
• severe gum disease problems (periodontitis) or certain conditions like immune system diseases have impacted the dental health and ultimately the need for a tooth extraction

Care after a tooth extraction (dos and don’ts)

If you follow your dentist’s instruction on dos and don’ts around tooth extraction procedure, you will easily handle it with no difficulty. Pulling a tooth like all other surgeries have some simple home cares. Your dentist will provide necessary tips before and after the procedure for you and they will help you with any unexpected problem.

So, if you follow tooth extraction aftercare tips, you may not need a late-night call to the general dentist. Common aftercare tips for simple extraction to heal are:

Bleeding/swelling tooth extraction aftercare

• your dentist gives you a gauze and you should bite down on the gauze pad for 30 minutes to 1 hour on the socket of the pulled tooth. This is to prevent bleeding. If your bleeding doesn’t stop, you will need second or third gauze packs.
• A tea bag is also recommended as gauze pack to prevent bleeding. You should bite down on the tea bag for 30 minutes.
• If bleeding doesn’t stop and it gets even more (you see large blood clots), call your dentist.
• Use ice packs or frozen ice peas for the 24 hours immediately after tooth extraction procedure. This helps you manage swelling. Put them on and off with 20 minutes interval on your soft tissues. (Apply ice packs for 20 minutes then put it away for another 20 minutes. Do it throughout the day)
• in order to prevent damages to your skin or soft tissue, ice packs or bags of frozen peas should not directly touch your skin. Use a thin piece of clean cloth in between.
• Keep your head higher and upright while sleeping.

Eating tips for tooth extraction aftercare

• Avoid rough, hard and hot foods and drinks. Eat soft liquid foods that are not hot and doesn’t cause burns and irritation.
• Eat and drink cold but not too cold foods and beverages (nonalcoholic) and have high intake of liquids by drinking more water and your favorite juice.
• Don’t use a straw for drinking and avoid spitting out your saliva forcefully for 24 hours. Any mechanical force on your mouth causes more bleeding
•  Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for a week.

Oral hygiene tooth extraction aftercare

• Use slat water rinse solution after 24 hours. Mix a half spoonful of salt in a mild warm glass of water and rinse your mouth gently.
• Brushing and flossing should be avoided immediately after tooth extraction. This is for preventing damages to sutures and disruptions in healing time. As soon as healing is over, start your daily brushing. Use mouthwashes instead for oral hygiene routines until one week.
• If you want to brush or floss your teeth, do it away from the tooth extraction site.
• Use mouthwashes especially those containing hydrogen peroxide. Do not use mouthwashes with alcohol in its ingredient.
• Take painkillers as recommended by your dentist.
• Avoid playing sports and doing exercises for some days.