Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth, and it is done for several reasons, including crowding or tough bites, tooth decay, toothache, and infection. After the extraction, taking care of your mouth, including brushing your teeth and using mouthwash, is essential.
What To Do After Tooth Extraction Procedure?
- Stop the bleeding
Apply pressure to the gauze pad placed over the extraction site for at least 30 minutes to reduce the blood-dinged saliva. This will help to stop the bleeding. You should also avoid drinking anything hot or eating hard foods for the next 24 hours. It is also essential to keep the extraction site clean by gently rinsing your mouth with warm saline water.
- Rinse your mouth
Rinse your mouth with warm saline water starting the day after your extraction. This will help keep the area clean and remove plaques to prevent infection.
- Eat soft foods
After you have a tooth pulled, taking care of your mouth is important. This includes eating soft foods for the first few days and avoiding hard or crunchy foods that could irritate your gums.
- Use an ice pack to ease swelling.
Use cold compression for the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Place the ice pack on your cheek near the extraction site, leave it for a few minutes, and repeat a couple of times in a day.
What Not To Do After Tooth Extraction Procedure?
- Avoiding smoking
To avoid possible adverse outcomes of tooth extractions, you must avoid smoking following the procedure. Smoking during this period can nearly double the healing time. Moreover, it can damage your other teeth and gums.
- Avoiding drinking through a straw
Avoid using a straw because it can disturb the blood clot that forms at the extraction site. This could lead to the painful condition known as dry socket.
- Avoiding hot drinks
One of the essential tips after a tooth extraction is to avoid drinking hot drinks for a week. Drinking lukewarm water and pure fruit juice is ideal for healing. Avoid sugary drinks, as these can contain chemicals that irritate the extraction site. Also, stick to soft foods. Avoid eating crunchy or chewy foods, which could irritate the extracted area.
- Avoiding strenuous activity
After tooth extraction, most oral surgeons advise their patients to avoid physical activity for the first four days after tooth extraction. This is because physical exertion increases blood pressure in the extraction site, leading to bleeding and a dry socket. Exercising can also dislodge blood clots, which may further delay healing. If you can’t avoid exercise, you should start slow and build up gradually.
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