Tips for Post-tooth Extraction Recovery
Extraction of a tooth may be recommended by your dentist for a variety of different reasons. Some people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted because they are causing discomfort or are in the way of orthodontic therapy, while others require dental work done because they have cavities.
Tooth extractions are performed in the dentist’s office under local or general anesthesia, depending on the tooth’s condition and the difficulty of the extraction. Even though pulling teeth is a straightforward process, you may need a week or two to recover from the treatment fully. Following a prescribed course of aftercare can hasten one’s recovery.
What to do following tooth extraction?
Are you anxious about having a tooth pulled? Even though having a tooth extracted may seem like a minor dental operation, aftercare is equally as important as the procedure itself. As a dental patient, you should know that with the proper precautions, you can reduce your discomfort and your risk of infection, so follow these tips.
1. Get Adequate Rest
Tooth extraction done in a dental clinic may not seem like a big procedure, but it’s still surgery. Get plenty of sleep and chill out after your extraction so the site can heal. If you want to stop the blood from constantly flowing and let a clot form, you should keep your head as upright as possible. Any activity that raises your blood pressure in the head, such as bending over or lifting heavy objects, should be avoided after surgery to prevent excessive bleeding.
2. Manage Swelling and Inflammation
Swelling following oral surgery can last up to a week, reaching its peak around the third day after tooth extraction. Swelling beyond a reasonable level might slow the healing process and lengthen the time it takes to get better. If you have slight swelling, bruising, discomfort, or bleeding in your cheeks or gums, you can treat it with over-the-counter pain relievers and an ice pack. Reduce puffiness by applying a cold compress to the affected area of the face for 15-minute intervals. Aside from lowering swelling and pain, the cold also numbs the area.
3. Eat Healthy Soft Diet
A nutrient-rich diet promotes cell renewal and wound healing. If you want to keep the empty tooth socket from inflamed, you should avoid eating anything hard, crunchy, or chewy while you heal. Saving the soft tissue around the surgery site intact is a priority, and a soft food diet is a great way to do just that.
If your mouth is sensitive, try eating foods like soup, stew, mashed potatoes, and yogurt. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, but avoid hot and cold drinks. To keep your oral health, you need the services of a trusted dental facility like Wheatland Dental.
4. Maintain Oral Hygiene
Although you shouldn’t brush or floss the area for one to two days following extraction, you can remove food debris and prevent infection by rinsing with a saltwater solution created by dissolving a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water. Swish the solution around your mouth first thing in the morning, before bed, and after meals.
Keep up your twice-daily routine of brushing and flossing the teeth you still have. To keep the tooth socket from being inflamed, you shouldn’t use any mouthwash containing alcohol. If you’re planning to have dental braces in Saskatoon, you need to have a reputable dentist perform the procedure.
5. Avoid Smoking and Using Straws
Negative pressure is created in your mouth when you smoke or drink via a straw. This pressure can potentially dislodge the blood clot that has formed in the tooth’s socket. If the blood clot is moved, there is a possibility that you can have a painful health condition known as a dry socket. A dry socket can cause serious infections, jaw bone deterioration, and nerve damage.
