After a Tooth Extraction: Caring for Your Mouth

Jul 12, 2022

You undergo a tooth extraction reluctantly, knowing well enough the procedure will cause some discomfort and require you to care for your mouth appropriately for quick recovery. The dentist in D’lberville provides after-care instructions for you to follow soon after getting your tooth removed.

You might think tooth extractions are no big deal and don’t require the care the dentist recommends. Unfortunately, if you don’t follow the dentist’s instructions after tooth extractions in D’lberville, MS, you bring misery upon yourself and delay recovery, besides exposing yourself to the risk of complications. Therefore you must follow the dentist’s instructions to the word to ensure a speedy recovery.

What After-Care Instructions Does the Dentist Provide?

Control Bleeding

To help control bleeding, the dentist near you places a gauze pad over the extraction site. You must bite firmly on the gauze pad to help form a blood clot in the extraction site. The gauze must remain over the area for about three to four hours, after which you can discard it. You can also use a teabag to put pressure on the site until the bleeding stops. You might experience minimal oozing from the surgical site during the initial 24 hours.

Minimize Pain

You can expect some discomfort from the extraction site as the anesthesia begins wearing off. However, the dentist prescribes painkillers or recommends over-the-counter remedies to alleviate your pain. Do not consider driving when taking prescription painkillers that might make you drowsy. Instead, ask your friend or family member to drive you or take a cab.

Reduce Swelling

Some swelling on your cheeks is expected after tooth extractions. An ice pack helps alleviate swelling when applied intermittently for 15 minutes on and off and repeat the procedure as required. Some bruising on your face is also expected but is normal and will subside by itself.

Get Enough Rest

Until 24-hours after tooth extraction, you must limit your activities and avoid indulging in strenuous activities like exercises or lifting heavy objects. Instead, you must remain in bed and try to get sufficient rest. You can keep your head in an elevated position when lying down.

Do’s

Help your mouth heal faster by adopting the following strategies:

  • Have A Diet of Healthy Foods and Snacks: You help yourself by having a diet of soft foods such as yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs after tooth extraction because crunchy and hard foods can dislodge the blood clot to cause a dry socket. Dry sockets are painful and can send you seeking treatments from the emergency dentist in D’lberville. You must also have plenty of liquids avoiding carbonated beverages or alcohol.
  • Brush Your Teeth Gently: Avoid brushing around the extraction site but brush your teeth without toothpaste to keep your mouth clean. Do not consider mouthwash as most brands contain alcohol harmful to the extraction site.
  • Maintain Cleanliness at the Extraction Site: 12 hours after tooth removal, you can rinse your mouth gently using saltwater after checking with the dentist 39540 and do so three to four times per day.

Don’ts

Tooth extractions also restrict you from certain activities. They are:

  • Refrain From Using Straws: the dentist recommends you not use straws for drinking liquids because it might dislodge the blood clot.
  • Avoid Scorching Beverages: Scorching drinks might increase swelling in your mouth. In addition, you must avoid having alcohol because it can hinder your healing.
  • Avoid Smoking: Smoking is harmful after tooth removal because the chemicals in tobacco dislodge the blood clot leading to a dry socket.

When rinsing your mouth, ensure that you do so gently for fear of dislodging the blood clot.

If you experience severe pain the day after tooth removal with bleeding that is challenging to control, you must contact Dr. Jeremy W Parker for assistance. You might need help even if the swelling around the extraction site worsens or you develop itches or rashes after taking your medications.

When you follow the dentist’s instructions, you ensure you recover from the tooth removal quickly without confronting any complications. After having a tooth extracted for any reason, it is your responsibility to care for your mouth as directed by your dentist. You can recover from the procedure in approximately two weeks, while your gums require more time to cover the extraction site.

If you must have a tooth extracted, Back Bay Family Dentistry performs these procedures frequently on patients using minimally invasive techniques. Kindly schedule an appointment with the practice to have your tooth extracted and recover quickly, following the instructions mentioned in this article.