8 Tips for Faster Recovery After a Tooth Extraction

While a dentist will always try their best to save your natural tooth, tooth removal is sometimes the best remedy to protect your oral health, function, and appearance. For instance, overcrowding can cause teeth misalignments, jaw pain, and headaches and increase your risk of tooth damage, decay, and gum disease. A tooth extraction can eliminate overcrowding.

Teeth extraction may also be necessary to remove baby teeth that don’t fall out in time, remove an impacted or severely damaged tooth, or give way for other treatments orthodontics. Based on the condition of your tooth, you can undergo a simple or surgical extraction.

Tooth Extraction Recovery Tips

Regardless of the procedure, many people are scared of the recovery process. You should enjoy a quick and effective recovery with a proper aftercare regime. Below are essential recovery tips for faster recovery after tooth extraction.

• Rest adequately.

It’s highly essential to get adequate rest following a tooth extraction. It preserves your energy and allows the body to heal faster. Strenuous activities like heavy lifting or bending over can cause increased pressure and blood flow in the head and extraction site, worsening your pain, bleeding, and inflammation.

When resting, be sure to keep your head elevated on a soft pillow. It allows blood to flow away from the site, reducing your discomfort and inflammation and allowing you to heal faster.

• Eat a soft diet.

Eating nutritious foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals is an excellent way to promote cell renewal and faster wound healing. However, ensure you get the nutrients without worsening the discomfort or disturbing the extraction site.

Avoid hard, chewy, spicy, hot, and crunchy food items for the next few days after tooth extraction. Instead, opt for soft and lukewarm food items like yogurt, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, avocado, soft fish, and minced meat. Avoid spices that can irritate the extraction area.

• Take medication as directed.

Once the anesthesia effects wear off, you may experience minor discomfort, pain, and swelling at the surgical site. While these effects should fade away in a few days, the dentist might give you some medication to manage your symptoms. You can also get antibiotics to prevent infections in the extraction site to promote faster recovery.

• Use cold therapy.

You can use a cold compress on the cheek against the extraction area and the medication. The cold slows down blood flow and numbs the area to minimize swelling and discomfort. Excessive discomfort and swelling can affect your healing process.

• Bite on the gauze to control bleeding.

It’s normal to experience minor bleeding after tooth extraction. Keep the gauze pad over the extraction area until the bleeding stops. Be sure to stay upright and avoid vigorous activities to minimize bleeding. Avoid excessive rinsing or spitting to prevent dislodging the blood clot when rinsing your mouth. It can lead to a dry socket and extend your recovery process.

• Hydrate well.

Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is essential to wash away bacteria and debris from the mouth to prevent infections and promote faster healing. Please note that caffeinated, alcoholic, hot, and carbonated beverages can irritate or cause tissue damage in the extraction area, slowing your recovery and increasing the risk of a dry socket and infections. Avoid drinking from a straw to prevent damaging the blood clot.

• Avoid smoking.

Smoking affects blood and oxygen flow, slowing wound healing and increasing your risk of infections and a dry socket. Be sure to stop smoking a few days before and after tooth extraction. If possible, stop it entirely! It will be good for oral and overall health.

• Maintain proper oral hygiene.

To avoid disturbing the extraction site, the dentist may advise against brushing and rinsing within the next 24 hours. When you resume your normal hygiene routine, brush gently around the extraction site. You can also gently rinse using an antibacterial mouthwash or warm salt water. Gently swish the solution in the mouth a few times daily, especially after eating.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Do you need more information about teeth extraction in Andover, MA? Contact Andover Cosmetic Dental Group.