Tooth Extraction Care
February 5th, 2008
The reason you may get a tooth pulled is because either: there is not enough room for it and tooth will become impacted, it must be removed to assure that the rest of your teeth grow properly, or tooth so severely decayed that it is beyond repair. But as beneficial as tooth extraction can be, it is also a very painful and tedious recovery process. The tooth extraction cost varies with the difficulty of the procedure and fortunately, there are usually very few tooth extraction complications. A tooth extraction complication is rare but when it does occur it includes tooth extraction dry socket, tooth extraction pain, tooth extraction infection and tooth extraction bleeding.
Many problems can be avoided with good tooth extraction care so it is very important to know what to do after a tooth extraction. Pain after tooth extraction is the most common tooth extraction problem and is most common after a surgical tooth extraction. Good care after tooth extraction greatly assists tooth extraction healing and often helps avoid an infected tooth extraction socket.
Tooth Extraction Care, What Is It?
Good tooth extraction care helps reduce the follow up complications related to oral surgery. The most important thing is to take excellent care of yourself after your surgery. Part of excellent tooth extraction care is to rest and keep comfortable.
It is almost always best to stay home and not work for a few days after tooth extraction procedure. Eating well is an important part of tooth extraction care. The body will use the food you eat to heal the area that you had tooth extraction in. Taking medications to prevent problems is another important step in tooth extraction care. Antibiotics are absolutely necessary to avoid an infection after tooth extraction.
What To Do After Tooth Extraction
Control Bleeding
First and foremost, you must prevent excessive bleeding by promoting the formation of a blood clot. What that means is for several hours after your surgery, you should softly bite down on a piece of gauze. And for a whole day do not rinse, drink with a straw, or smoke.
Bite firmly the gauze pack over the surgical area for, at least, 1/2 hour; then discard it gently. Some blood will ooze from the area of surgery for several hours and it is normal. Do not spit, or suck through a straw, since this will promote bleeding. When bleeding persists at home, place a gauze pad or cold wet teabag over the area and bite firmly for 30 minutes. Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue. Keep your head elevated on several pillows or sit in a lounge chair for 12 hours. Do not smoke for 24 hours after surgery because this will cause bleeding, pain and interfere with healing.
Rinsing
Do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth for the first 12 hours after the surgical appointment. Then use warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup [4 ounces] of warm water) after tooth-brushing and every 2 hours.
Rest
Exercise is a no-no for at least a week. Proper tooth extraction care requires that you rest. But don’t worry, you won’t need to burn any calories as you will only be able to drink liquids (not from a straw though) and eat soft foods for a couple of days after your surgery.
Get plenty of rest; at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Avoid strenuous exercise during the first 24 hours, and keep the mouth from excessive movement. Physical activity may increase bleeding.
Diet
Use a liquid or soft diet high in protein. Drink a large volume of water and fruit juices. Do not drink through a straw because this may promote bleeding. Avoid hot food for the first 24 hours after surgery because this may promote bleeding. Eat a soft diet for the first 24 hours after tooth extraction. Avoid foods that require excessive chewing. You can resume a normal diet the day after tooth removal.
Don’t chew foods on the side of your mouth where your tooth was pulled! Leave that area alone, even when brushing your teeth.
During tooth extraction care, you may be surprised at how much swelling you’ll have. Don’t worry. This is normal! Simply wrap a cold ice pack around your head. The swelling will gradually reduce but you may feel some stiffness for a while.
Pain and Discomfort after Tooth Extraction
Some discomfort is normal after surgery. It can be controlled by taking the pain medication your dentist has prescribed or recommended. Start taking your pain pills before the numbing medication has worn off. Take your pain pill with an 8 oz. glass of water and/or a small amount of food to prevent nausea. Over-the-counter pain medications or Painkillers may be used for temporary pain relief. Do not overdosing on these generic drugs: Aspirin, or Ibuprofen, or Ketoprofen, or Naproxen Sodium, or Acataminophen.
Tooth extraction care may not seem like very fun and you might be rethinking all the benefits of getting a tooth pulled now, but your dentist will prescribe medications to relieve the pain and swelling so just take it easy and use tooth extraction care as an excuse to eat some ice cream.
Categories: Dentists, Gums, Oral Hygiene, Teeth
the included info is good and i get benefits from it
Hello, I would like some reassurrence about my molar tooth i had extracted just over three weeks ago, i’ve been getting aching from this area since i had it removed, the dentist did say it was a big tooth, but its getting me dowm a bit now, is this normal to experience dull pain like this for this period of time,it is around the jaw bone and surrounding area.
Thank You.
Susan, molars are connected to the jaw and since it was removed, you will experience pain for a long time (less than 1 or 2 months) just be sure to take your painkillers and you should be fine.
Also better to make an appointment with the dentist who did the extraction for he/she to have a look at it. There could a piece of the tooth still be left in the gum.
Thanks to Richard for explanations.
I have two of my wisdom tooth extracted on Thursday.I have stitches in both the places.My doctor has not given me any Anibiotics,she said it will heal natuarlly.Its been three days and I still cant have solid food & taking Ibuprofen trice a day to relieve pain.Will it take longer to heal without antibiotics.What precautions can I take to prevent infection in the gum
I had one wisdom tooth pulled yesterday at 3pm.
very simple extraction.
no stitches, very little pain but sore.
when can I lift again.
I am a bodybuilder.
At first Dentist said today no prob.
then after surgery he said probably tommorrow.
Id really like to go today at 10 am
that is 18 hours after surgery.
what do you think
I’m going to get my wisdom tooth removed next week and I usually have a 3 day weekend, but from what I understand from all the literature I’ve read it can be difficult to open your mouth and talk for a prolong period of time. I’m pretty much on the phone at work 10 hours a day, and I am concerned if this will cause any difficulty in recovery or my work. What is the normal recommended time frame for rest? Would 3 days be enough? Thank you in advance for your help!
Hello, I just went to go see my dentist and she said that I need 3 surgical extractions. My only problem is the healing process. My job is very demanding and I can’t afford to miss a day. I was thinking if I do one at a time cause my dentist closes at 8pm on Mondays and Tuesday and 6 pm on Wednesday to Fridays. And if I do decide to do one at a time after work, is it possible for me to go to work the next day or will there still be some bleeding? The pain I know I can get away with Painkillers my concern is the bleeding. It is hard taking time off in the Military that is why I’m asking. Thanks and God Bless
In response to judy. My husband is in the military has well so I understand your stituation. I’m a dental assistant, so I know what to expect. If you don’t have a duty weekend and your off. I would choose that week and try to have it done on a friday, that way you’ll have the weekend to rest. Most people have min. bleeding before leaving the office. It normally stops bleeding completely after 2hrs. You normally don’t see bleeding after a day. You might experience some swelling, nothing to worry about though. Just make sure you follow the instructions given by your doctor and staff and you’ll be just fine. Trust me you should make sure to take at least 2 days of rest. I just recently got my bottom two wisdom teeth so I’m putting the healing treatment to the test. So far excellent results. If you have problems don’t wait to call your dentist
I am having two teeth extracted. One on each side of my mouth, on top. I have a 15 month old baby and my husband only took off the day of the procedure. Do you think I will be able to take care of my baby without being in major pain. Thanks.
To Jessica R:
I had one wisdom tooth extracted 2 1/2 weeks ago. It has been very painful, I have dry socket which did not improve with the medication that they pack in the incision sight in the gums. finally had to go back fourth time. the dentist had to put more stitches for it to close up. The pain has not improved much. I have three children 5, 2,and 1. I have no one to help me with them it has been miserable. Get some one to help you if possible.
Hi,
I had one of my wisdom teeth removed, without any problems. But now a week later the front tooth hurts… it feels like sensitive but hurts like hell. i tried all the gels and toothpaste to make it better but to no avail.
can maybe someone give me some sort of info
Pete
I had my two bottom wisdom teeth removed on a Monday, was out of work for three days after… on the third day, my face was still so swollen i went back to the dentist. he packed medicine in my left side which was harder to come out. Its been two days since ive been to the dentist, and my gum is completely open, i can’t eat and can hardly swallow. its becoming very annoying to deal with, and i feel as if my dentist gets annoyed when i come in so often. He put stictches in both sides Monday, but they desolved already. My left side is not healed at all, I really just don’t know what to do anymore the pain is awful and i can’t miss any work.
i got a tooth out last wed ,there was hardly any bleeding and the dentist did not give a bit of gause to put on it! By saturday i was climbing the wall ,with pain got a emergency appointment at g dens as it was the weekend , i had dry socket ,but the dentist was taken out bits of tooth that was still in the socket ! it is now tuesday and i am still in pain and i am sure there is still a line of tooth in the gum that is sharp , surely the other dentist would of seen this and said to go back to my dentist and get it out or is this normal !
I got a tooth extracted two days ago, and I was wondering if it is ok to use mouthwash after I brush? since i am now allowed to brush.
Hello, i had the third molar in my right upper jaw extracted two weeks in a process i considered difficult and of course it was painful. Problem is, two weeks on i get a headache if i try to put a lump of food in my mouth. I get a terrible pain when i open the jaws to a certain degree which causes me an instant headache. I need urgent help on how to go about this because i am finding difficulty eating.
Hello: I had teeth removed and i got stitches it still painful after 24 hours I am a smoker i waited 24hr (sleep must of the time ) did not smoke and i rinsedafter 24 hours it still hurts VERY bad, can not eat only eating soup and mashed potatoes, drinking fluids and taking meds what can i do to stop the pain call doctor waiting for call back
Nanna, It’s good that you’ve called the doctor. You want to beware of a condition called “dry socket,” although why they call it dry when it’s so wet inside a mouth most of the time, I don’t know. When a tooth is extracted, your jawbone is actually exposed until your gums heal back over the site. It’s good you didn’t smoke after the extraction, but wouldn’t this be a good time to quit? I take it you did not commit any of the other indiscretions that can also lead to this condition, or at least the delay of healing: drinking through a straw, drinking hot fluids or performing a BJ. Your dentist will warn you about the former, but somehow it never occurs to him/her to warn you about the latter.
hi, I had a tooth extracted 5 days ago, and my mouth is
still sore. I also had a cleaning done (also beneath the
gum line) prior 30 minutes prior to the extraction. was this too much dental work in one day?
the extraction was done because I broke the tooth (which surrounded a filling) when I chewed a popcorn kernel.
The problem I’m having is the soreness, but more significantly, a bad taste in my mouth from that area. a
co-worker told me today that the taste is from the medicine used to numb my gums. I don’t remember having this unplesant taste with prior extractions. please advise. thanks
To Coleen,
The “bad taste” is normal with most extractions. when I had my wisdom teeth out, it lasted a few weeks but went back to normal. Its (I believe) bacteria in the wounds causing the taste.
Hello,
I had a tooth surgically extracted last Tuesday. I have had no problems with it but a little soreness. Today (Sunday) I am experiencing a little bit of bleeding. Should I be concerned or just out more gauze in to stop the bleeding?
I had a tooth extracted approx 12 hrs ago. Is it still normal to experience bleeding? I have been trying to sleep.
Hi, I had a bottom molar tooth extracted last monday (August 3rd). I experienced no pain after, I didn’t take any pain medicine, only penicillin for possible infections. The doctor did not give me any stitches and although it looks fine and I’ve kept it extremely clean, I don’t know if the two flaps of skin will ever merge together so that there isn’t this little hole. Will it ever heal over so that there is only a space and no hole?
I had a front tooth extracted this week and could not believe how painless it was. My periodontist slowly and gently extracted the tooth and I could not even tell when he had done it. I took a couple of Motrin following the procedure and never felt any pain afterward. I applied some ice to the socket for a while and never experienced any swelling. Also, there was almost no bleeding. I have had a few root canals and also found them to be relatively painless; the extraction was even easier than a root canal! I write b/c I had experienced some angst before the procedure and I want to let others know to not worry pain etc etc.
I had my upper left molar extracted 1 day ago and I am still experiencing some discomfort, swelling and soreness. My concern is I think some food particles is getting jammed in the socket area and I have tried rinsing with warm/salt water to maybe clean it out. What is the next best thing to do?
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What kinds of foods can you eat exactly because I am starving?! I had an extraction today and I really would like to eat. I am scared thoughh that the bleeding hasnt stopped. Is it ok to eat even if you still have the gauze in? and if so what can i eat then?
Thanks very much for the instructions/information on this website. It precisely summarizes all the tooth care that patients need to know about their teeth after an extraction.
I had a tooth extracted a week and a day ago, another one four days ago, and two more just today. From my experience, I can say that I’ve grown well with caring for my teeth after extraction.
The best care you can give your teeth after extraction are the following: just relax; and, simply follow the after care instructions without any worries.
The more you worry about your teeth and feel afraid of doing things you’re not sure of if they’ll hurt you or not, the more you do mistakes. Just relax and don’t think that the worst will happen to you — “dry sockets”, excessive bleeding, difficulty in recovery, and etc. They are only rare cases anyway.
You should also remember to carefully follow your dentist’s instructions: to take your meds, rest well, and eat soft food as much as possible until you feel that your teeth can bear it. But, be careful not to overestimate yourself.
Last, I think this is the best advice to stop bleeding immediately after the surgery: after biting firmly on the gauze (as firm as possible to stop bleeding), get yourself some ice cream! My surgery ended at 4PM, and by 5PM, I could go on without biting on any gauze anymore. But, just don’t forget to take it easy and rest your mouth (not just your teeth) well. And, let your blood form a clot to stop the bleeding!
Good luck! :D