I pulled my tooth – what should I do now?
Be comfortable for the rest of the day. Exercise as little as possible and rest as much as possible. Keep your head up to avoid any bleeding.
What precautions should I take?
Avoid hot food or drink until the anesthesia wears off. This is important because you can’t feel the pain properly and it can burn or scald your mouth. Also, be careful not to chew your cheek. This is a fairly common problem that can occur when there is no emotion.
If you are resting, try to hold your head higher the first night, using an extra pillow if possible. It’s also a good idea to use an old pillowcase or place a towel over the pillow in case it bleeds a little.
Should I rinse my mouth?
Do not attempt to rinse the area for the first 24 hours. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot by eating from that side or allowing your tongue to bother it. This can lead to infection and affect healing.
Is there anything else I should avoid?
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours as it can promote bleeding and delay healing. Eat and drink warm foods as usual, but avoid chewing with that area of your mouth.
When should I brush?
It is very important to keep your mouth clean after tooth extraction. As much as possible, you should be careful not to leave any pieces of food in the area.
What should I do if it’s bleeding?
The first thing to remember is that there may be slight bleeding on the first day. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding. This is because a small amount of blood is mixed with a larger amount of saliva, which looks more dramatic than it is.
If you notice bleeding, do not rinse, apply pressure to the cavity. Bite firmly on a clean cotton material folded, such as a tissue, for at least 15 minutes. Make sure it is placed directly over the removal site and the pad is replaced if necessary.
If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after an hour or two, contact your dentist.
How soon can I smoke?
It is important that you do nothing to increase your blood pressure, as this can cause more bleeding. We recommend not smoking for as long as possible after the shot, but this should be for at least the rest of the day.
Is there anything I can do to speed healing?
Different people heal at different rates after a tooth extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and extraction area as clean as possible, making sure the cavity is kept clear of all food and debris. Do not rinse for the first 24 hours, this will help your mouth begin to heal.
After this time, use a salt water gargle, which helps the cavity heal. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water that is gently rinsed around the burrow twice a day can help clean and heal the area. Do this for at least a week or as long as your dentist tells you to.
It is important to maintain a healthy diet; and take a vitamin C supplement to help your mouth heal.
I have pain, what should I take?
There will usually be some tenderness in the area for the first few days and in most cases a simple pain reliever is enough to ease the discomfort. Normally what you would take for a headache will be enough. But always consult your doctor first. Do not take aspirin, as this may cause continued bleeding in your mouth.
Are there any medications I should avoid?
As we said before, it’s important not to use anything containing aspirin as this can cause more bleeding. This is because aspirin can thin the blood a bit. Asthmatics should avoid ibuprofen-based pain relievers. If you’re worried or think you need something stronger, consult your dentist again.
I’m still in pain, what could it be?
Sometimes an infection can occur in the tooth cavity and this can be very painful. This is where the tooth socket has few or no blood clots and the bony socket walls are exposed and infected. This is called a dry socket, and in some cases worse than the original toothache!
Will my dentist need to see me again?
If it was a particularly difficult extraction, the dentist will give you a follow-up appointment. This could be removing any stitches that are needed or just checking that the area is healing well.
You can learn all the details from our dentists at Dent Art Port Bodrum Dental Clinic.
