Tooth Extraction Aftercare Tips – What To Do After Your Surgery

If you’re getting a tooth extraction at Vivid Smiles, you may be wondering what to do as you recover from surgery. We will provide you with comprehensive instructions after your procedure, which you should follow closely.

But if you’re curious and want to learn a bit more about tooth extraction aftercare now, read on. We’ll discuss a few top tips that you should definitely follow after your procedure.

1. Take Steps To Reduce Bleeding And Discomfort After Surgery

You’ll usually have a gauze pack placed over your extraction site. Bite down on it to put pressure on the site, and allow a blood clot to form. You may need to swap it a few times if it becomes soaked with blood. After the clot forms, there still may be a bit of blood oozing from the extraction site.

This is normal. To reduce bleeding, avoid eating hot foods and drinks, and rest with your head slightly elevated. You also must not smoke for at least 48 hours.

If you have been given a prescription for painkillers, fill it and take them as directed. Otherwise, you can take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to help with pain. Applying an ice pack to the cheek near the extraction site will also numb it and help with swelling.

2. Avoid Exercise & Heavy Exertion For A Few Days

You should go home, rest, and relax for at least 24 hours. We recommend taking a day or two off of work or school, if possible. And, for at least 2-3 days, avoid heavy exercise or exertion. This can contribute to pain, bleeding, and discomfort, and slow down the healing process.

3. Know What To Eat (And What Not To Eat)

For the first 24 hours, eat only liquid foods and foods that require no chewing, like broth or liquid soup, yogurt, and smoothies. You can introduce foods like jello, pudding, applesauce, ice cream, and other slightly firmer foods after a day or two.

After a few days, you should be able to eat foods like pasta, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. After a week, you can eat most foods, but you should still avoid very tough, crunchy, hard, or brittle foods.

About two weeks after your extraction, you can resume your normal diet. While it may still feel a bit tender to the touch, your extraction site will be almost completely healed.

4. Take Steps To Prevent “Dry Socket”

Dry socket occurs when the blood clot in your tooth socket is dislodged. This usually happens due to spitting forcefully or using a straw. Make sure you do not spit forcefully or use a straw for at least 2-3 days after treatment.

5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

You can brush your teeth normally after your extraction, but avoid the extraction site. To clean the site, rinse with a prescription mouth rinse or a salt water rinse. You should avoid brushing the site directly for about a week. After this, you can begin brushing the extraction site gently as you brush your other teeth.

Need A Tooth Extraction In Terre Haute? Vivid Smiles Is Here To Help!

Dr. Sahai use the latest surgical techniques to provide gentle extractions for troublesome teeth in Terre Haute, and will provide you with all of the instructions you need to recover quickly after your procedure. So don’t wait. If you think one or more of your teeth need to be extracted, contact us online or give us a call at (812) 803-2340 to schedule a consultation right away.