How to Take Care of Your Tooth after Extraction?

 

Dentists aim to support patients as long as possible to maintain all their natural teeth. In some circumstances, however, one or more extractions are required. This may occur for a number of reasons, including advanced deterioration, impacted wisdom teeth, or the need for orthodontic treatment to make room. If you know you will need to get a tooth extraction soon, it is crucial that after your operation you plan to take good care of your mouth. To help you do exactly that, here are some tips from an accomplished oral surgeon in OKC.

• Manage Swelling and Bleeding

For at least three or four hours after the operation, try to keep the gauze in place. Even, to reduce swelling, you should add ice. Be sure, however, that you only add ice at a time for 10 minutes. Leaving it on for longer than that may lead to damage to tissue.

• Grab Painkillers

In OKC, the oral surgeons will prescribe painkillers for you. Or, you can use over the counter drugs if you do not have a prescription. Make sure to follow guidelines for dosing carefully.

• Rest Over

A difficult operation is surgical tooth extraction, and it is likely to leave you feeling a little exhausted. Listen to your body and make sure you get ample rest. Many individuals take a whole day to relax, then restrict their behavior for a week or so. Prop your head up on pillows while you’re sleeping because lying flat could prolong healing.

• Maintaining Oral Hygiene

Following an extraction, you can continue to clean and floss your teeth. However, until after proper healing has occurred, you should not contact the extraction site. After the first 24 hours, your oral surgeon might advise you to rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to battle bacteria and encourage healing.

• Blood Clot Protection

Soon after your extraction, where your tooth once was, a blood clot will form. The role of the clot is to safeguard the fragile tissues underneath it. You could end up suffering from a debilitating condition known as a dry socket if you inadvertently dislodge the blood clot. You should take the following steps within the first 24 hours after your operation in order to prevent the blood clot:

• Stop smoking and tobacco chewing.
• Do not use a straw.
• Do not rinse and spit.
• Eat soft foods, such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, and applesauce.

Do’s

To help your mouth heal, below are some things to do.

1. Eat a diet of soft, wholesome foods and snacks. Drink plenty of liquid as well.
2. Do gently brush your teeth. Stop brushing around the extracted area. And don’t use toothpaste at all. The blood clot may be dislodged by rinsing toothpaste from your mouth.
3. Keep the extraction site tidy. You might be able to rinse your mouth gently after 12 hours. Consult your doctor and rinse your mouth with salt water for four times a day.

Don’ts

A few things to stop when you’re recovering are below.

1. Do not use a straw to drink. It may dislodge a clot if you suck with a straw.
2. Stay away from hot liquids as they can increase the swelling. Also restrict your alcohol intake as it may slow down recovery.
3. Stop smoking as it may break down the blood clots causing a painful socket.

 

Visit us at Oral and Facial Surgery of Oklahoma. In OKC, we have services for tooth extraction. Visit us for dental implants, bone grafting, jaw surgery, impacted canine, facial trauma or impacted tooth care.

**Disclaimer: This site content is not intended to be medical advice nor establishes a doctor-patient relationship.