Whether you need your wisdom teeth removed or a tooth extraction for some other reason, there are some steps you can take to ease the recovery process and encourage your mouth to heal as quickly as possible. Follow these tips below for a smooth recovery!
- Follow Our Instructions
- Rest
- Keep Your Extraction Site Clean
- Eat with Care
- Avoid Straws
The single most important thing you can do to promote a smooth recovery after a tooth extraction is to follow our instructions. Our team will send you home with detailed care instructions for your mouth to help you heal. If you have any questions about our instructions or if something comes up that you’re unsure how to handle, do not hesitate to give us a call.
After your tooth extraction, it’s best to take the remainder of the day off and rest. Keep your head slightly elevated with an extra pillow. Avoid bending, heavy lifting, and vigorous physical activity for several days. Your body needs rest and relaxation so that it can devote more energy to healing.
It is important to keep your extraction site free of food particles and bacteria with gentle rinsing and brushing. Otherwise, your extraction site could become infected. At first you will only gently brush around the area. A few days after your procedure, start gently rinsing with warm saltwater. And after about a week, you can start rinsing with more vigor and you should begin to gently brush the extraction site to clean it and promote blood flow.
As you recover, you should stick to soft foods to avoid irritating your extraction site. Foods like baked sweet potatoes, beans, bananas, blueberries, smoothies, low-sugar yogurt, and pureed soups are great options. Avoid pretzels, candy, chips, hard bread, chewing gum, and caffeine.
Although straws may seem harmless, they are actually one of the top causes of a common complication after tooth extractions: dry socket. The suction from using a straw can dislodge the delicate blood clot that forms on the extraction site to help the area heal. If the blood clot is dislodged, it exposes nerve and bone underneath, resulting in intense pain. This also increases your risk for infection. Do not use straws for several days. Additionally, do not use tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, which require a similar suction action.
More Questions? We Have Answers!
To ask any questions about recovery after a tooth extraction or to schedule a visit to our office, contact us today.
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