How to Speed up Healing after Tooth Extraction

We all want to preserve our natural teeth for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. While preserving natural teeth is always the main aim, sometimes a tooth extraction is necessary for a variety of reasons. Wisdom teeth impaction, severe tooth decay, periodontal disease, severe dental trauma, and overcrowding are some of these issues.

It’s critical to know how to prepare for a tooth extraction if your dentist has scheduled one for you. Your dentist will most likely offer you pre-extraction instructions that you must follow. Your dentist can perform a simple or surgical extraction depending on the type of tooth to be pulled.

A simple extraction is ideal for a tooth that’s visible or accessible in the mouth. For this procedure, the dentist uses a pair of forceps to extract the tooth.

A surgical extraction is recommended when the tooth is not visible or accessible in the mouth. The dentist cuts into the gums to reach the tooth. For both extractions, local anesthesia is used to make the procedure painless and comfortable.

The Do’s and Don’ts After Tooth Extraction

After the tooth extraction procedure, possible side effects include minimal bleeding, swelling, pain, and sensitivity around the extraction site. What you do after the extraction is essential.

Tooth extraction recovery does require you to pay attention to some things to facilitate quick and effective recovery. Below are some aftercare tips for tooth extraction.

Things You Should Do During Your Recovery

After tooth extraction, doing some things can help you feel better and recover faster.

• Bite on the gauze – Bleeding after a tooth extraction is expected. To control the bleeding and help in clot formation, your dentist will give you a gauze to bite on. You should keep the gauze in place until the bleeding stops. If the gauze gets soaked up with blood, change it to prevent infections.

• Take medication as directed by your dentist – To lessen the effects of tooth extraction, such as pain and swelling, your dentist is likely to prescribe some medicines. Take the medication as directed to reduce discomfort and promote faster healing. If the dentist doesn’t prescribe any medication, consult them about taking over-the-counter medicine, if necessary.

• Use an ice pack – Home remedies such as ice packs come in handy when dealing with after-extraction side effects. Use an ice pack for about 10-15 minutes to manage swelling, pain, and bruising.

• Get enough rest – For the next 24 hours or so, get enough rest. Entirely avoid strenuous activities such as exercises and sports. Strenuous activities can cause pressure around the extraction area, causing more bleeding. When lying down, raise your head slightly using a soft pillow.

• Eat soft foods – What you eat after extraction matters a lot. Eat soft and healthy foods such as soups, eggs, vegetables, and yogurt. Hard, spicy, and sticky foods can damage or cause sensitivity in the extraction area, slowing down recovery.

• Keep the extraction area clean – To avoid infections and aid in faster recovery, keep the extraction area clean. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t brush or rinse your mouth for the next 12 – 24 hours. Afterward, you can rinse with salt water and brush while avoiding the extraction area.

• Hydrated well – It’s important to keep yourself hydrated after the extraction. However, only sip small amounts of body temperature drinks when you feel thirsty. Please note that hot or cold beverages can affect the healing area and slow down healing.

Things You Shouldn’t Do During Your Recovery

Things to avoid after dental extraction include:

• Avoid sucking or using a straw – These things can irritate the wound or dislodge the blood clot, potentially leading to complications such as dry socket and excessive bleeding.

• Don’t disturb the wound – While you may feel tempted to feel the wound with your tongue or finger, doing this can disrupt the area causing bleeding, infection, and delayed healing.

• Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages – For the next 2-3 days, avoid alcoholic drinks and tobacco products as they can delay the healing and cause complications such as empty sockets and bleeding.

• Avoid hard, spicy, and hot foods

When to call your dentist

Contact your dentist immediately if you have:

• Severe pain
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop
• Worsening swelling around the extraction area
• Fever

Final Verdict

With proper aftercare practice, tooth extraction recovery should be quick and smooth. For more information about tooth extraction treatments and recovery, contact Andover Cosmetic Dental Group.