A tooth extraction, whether done in the dental chair or in day surgery, can be a huge undergoing. Teeth can’t always keep their place in your mouth and issues such as impacted wisdom teeth, overcrowding, tooth decay, gum disease, severe damages and infection can mean that you have no choice but to have one or more of your teeth removed. The recovery process can take some care and attention to ensure that you’re on the mend and back at your regular routine sooner rather than later. Read on for aftercare tips for tooth extraction …
Eating and Drinking
You’re going to have to be careful with your eating and drinking habits after your tooth extraction in order to recover quickly. A few rules to follow closely are:
Only eat soft foods slowly and mindfully: It is imperative that you stick to soft foods only for a week after your extraction. Some ideas for meals include ice cream, yogurt, mashed potatoes, apple sauce and mashed banana.
Don’t drink through a straw: Straws bring pressure into your mouth and cause the movement or dislodgment of your blood clot. A blood clot is essential for healing the wound in your mouth, so if this happens you have to head to your dentist right away.
Avoid smoking: Smoking, aside from being very bad for your health, also introduces this pressure to your blood clot. It is best avoided, if not always, for around a week following your tooth extraction.
Pain Management Methods
Of course, you’ll need to be armed with some pain relief and management methods to make your healing process as seamless and easy as possible. A few tips for pain management are as follows:
Over the counter medicine: Over the counter pain medications should be enough to get you through the healing process. If this isn’t working for you, you’ll need to speak with your dentist.
Cold Press: Apply ice packs to your jaw every few hours to relieve pain.
Saltwater: After you’re a few days into your healing process, try swirling a little saltwater around your mouth for some natural disinfectant.
Keep in Mind
Some more care tips following a tooth extraction include:
Don’t blow your nose: Just as drinking through a straw and smoking can welcome unwanted pressure in your mouth and risk the dislodgment of a blood clot, so can blowing your nose. Avoid at all costs if possible.
Always elevate your head when sleeping: Laying flat is going to make your healing process go slower, always stay elevated during the day and night to avoid making your recovery more difficult.
Avoid rinsing: Rinsing might feel good whilst in the moment, but it actually puts your mouth at risk of infection and bleeding. Keep to gentle dental care and get back to rinsing in a couple of days.
Brush your teeth as usual: As stated above, it’s still important to care for the rest of your smile. Tooth infections and additional cavities can emerge when you avoid cleaning your mouth following a tooth extraction. To avoid having to go through this process again, keep up with brushing your teeth at least twice a day or after your soft food with a gentle bristle toothbrush. Flossing is also great if you can manage it.
Don’t spit: Copious amounts of spitting is not good for your healing process.
Get as much rest as you can: The body always needs plenty of rest to repair itself, so make sure you’ve carved out enough time to really allow yourself to mend properly.
Follow Up Maintenance and Diligence
Make sure you visit your dentist or healthcare practitioner following your tooth extraction to follow up on the procedure. Regular check-ups and cleans are essential in the next coming months, so book yourself in to be safe.
