BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
Schedule some time off, so you can take it easy for several days after your tooth extraction. If you are a woman taking birth control pills, schedule your appointment during the last week of your cycle. Arrange to have a friend or family member drive you home. We may recommend that you take an anti-inflammatory medication before your appointment.
WHEN TO CALL US
It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a tooth extraction, but call us right away if you have:
- Heavy or increased bleeding
- Pain or swelling that increases or continues beyond two or three days
- A bad taste or odor in your mouth
- A reaction to the medication
DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS
It is important that a blood clot forms on the extraction site to stop bleeding, reduce pain, and speed healing. To protect the clot and avoid the pain of dry socket:
- Bite on a gauze pad firmly for 45 to 60 minutes. If bleeding or oozing continues, bite down on a clean pad or moist tea bag for 45 to 60 minutes.
- Don't spit, and don't suck on candies or through a straw.
- Don't rinse your mouth, and don't brush or floss next to the site.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco. Avoid tobacco for at least 72 hours because it slows healing.
- Don't sneeze or cough, so have sinus or allergy medication on hand if necessary.
- Limit yourself to calm activities and elevate your head with pillows when you lie down to reduce bleeding.
- Don't drink hot, carbonated, or alcoholic drinks, and avoid hot or spicy foods.
- To control discomfort, take pain medication before the anesthetic has worn off or as recommended.
- To keep swelling to a minimum, use an ice bag over the area, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
- When the numbness has worn off completely, drink lots of fluids and eat only soft nutritious foods, chewing on the opposite side.
AFTER THE FIRST 24 HOURS
- Begin to eat normally as soon as it's comfortable.
- Resume brushing and flossing, but clean gently around the site for about a week.
- If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
- Reduce soreness or swelling by applying moist heat. Swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.
- Further reduce swelling by rinsing your mouth very gently with warm salt water. Use about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. Rinse two to three times a day for the week following the extraction.