An excellent dentist to help you care for your teeth is crucial for your oral and overall health. If a tooth extraction becomes necessary at any point in your dental journey, your dentist can help ensure great oral care so that you heal well.
Full Heart Dentistry is your trusted dental provider in Rochester, New York, with our qualified, caring staff and stress-free environment. We go the extra mile to make our patients calm and comfortable so they can be treated and on their way to a full recovery as quickly as possible.
In this post, we’ll explain what’s involved in healing after tooth extraction and what patients can do to ease the process.
Post-Extraction Care That Matters
When tooth extraction is necessary, this procedure often alleviates many forms of more widespread and severe tooth damage, pain, or decay. A tooth extraction can eliminate bacteria and will improve a patient’s overall oral health when taken care of promptly.
Understanding the importance of post-extraction care can speed up a patient’s recovery time. Let’s dive into the steps individuals can take to heal as quickly as possible.
Wound Care for Healing After Tooth Extraction
Your dentist will give clear instructions for care during your recovery period. Immediately after a tooth extraction, one of the most important things a patient needs to do is control the bleeding. Do this by biting down gently but firmly on the gauze the dentist has given you. This helps the extraction site clot while reducing the risk of dry sockets.
Your dentist may also indicate the application of an ice pack to reduce swelling. At Full Heart, we make sure your bleeding has stopped before we send you home with tailored instructions for care.
Pain Management
Rest and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine is best when followed per the manufacturer’s instructions, as most procedures will require oral pain relievers for a few days afterward. OTC anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen per manufacturer directions can help.
Patients who experience severe pain should call their dental office immediately for additional pain management support and a follow-up to make sure everything is healing correctly.
Oral Hygiene
After the first 24 hours, oral hygiene will be important for a healthy recovery. Keep the extraction site clean and avoid rinsing your mouth for those first 24 hours. This will allow your mouth to heal correctly.
After the initial 24-hour period, take the following steps:
Rinsing With Salt Water
Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and before bed for about a week to help clean and heal the socket. Never use alcohol-based mouthwashes because they will burn. The ideal ration is 1/4 teaspoon of salt for every 8 ounces of water.
Teeth Brushing
Continue to brush your teeth twice a day but avoid the extraction area. Brush carefully around the extraction site and avoid spitting or forcefully rinsing as this will aggravate the extraction site. Avoid brushing the extraction site until the wound is fully healed, and do not floss for the first 24 hours.
Diet and Nutrition
Getting back to your daily routines can be challenging following an extraction. For the first few days, it’s best to avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Stock your fridge with a variety of soft foods like mashed potatoes, gelatin, rice, soft pasta, eggs, yogurt, and applesauce before your procedure.
Also, avoid drinking through straws because this can dislodge your blood clots and cause dry sockets. It’s smart to stay hydrated while your mouth is healing since this supports a speedy recovery and leads to fewer complications over time.
Rest and Recovery Timeline
While healing after tooth extraction can be different for everyone, the best rule of thumb is to avoid any strenuous activities for at least two days. Rest is the best medicine and will help avoid any complications after the procedure. So, take a break, enjoy some soft food, and ask your dentist when it’s safe to resume your normal activities.
Full Heart Dentistry and Our Post-Extraction Care
Full Heart Dentistry is committed to our patients’ comfort and care. Our friendly and professional post-extraction care team provides easy-to-follow instructions to make every patient’s recovery as smooth as possible. Let Full Heart Dentistry’s expertise in oral surgery will get your smile back on track today. Schedule a free consultation at Full Heart Dentistry today for all your dental needs.