Tooth Extraction Care
February 5th, 2008, By Dental Health Magazine Staff
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
Hi, I had six teeth removed six weeks ago including 2 wisdom teeth, operation went well and have had little pain since. I have an issue now however, in that my mouth only opens about 3 cms, whereas before it would open much wider.
Anyone else had this issue, or may know what it might be?
I just had my upper right molar (#2) surgically extracted on sat. (Four days ago) I was terrified and after having it done it was much better than expected. My gums around the area are still sore but they are healing well. Just follow the after care instruction to the letter and you should be just fine.
What relief an extraction brings, especially when you’ve had an abscessing tooth with the roots exposed! Once the roots become exposed the decay is usually too far down for the tooth to be saved via a root canal. >>> PRIOR – I’m deathly afraid of the dentist and used the anxiety medication that my regular doctor had prescribed and made the process so much easier to deal with. >>> DURING – It only took a total of a few minutes to have the actual molar tooth removed. I bit down on some gauze for a few hours, changing it in between times, and yes it did slightly bleed for an hour after I removed the gauze. The first time I pulled the gauze out I noticed a huge clump of mucus textured blood; this was the clot that was suppose to have stayed in my mouth, so I had to insert another piece of gauze until it came out without the clump of mucus, just the blood. >>> AFTER – For the first 12 hours, after, I drank water and pureed my food up. My hot cereal and chili liquified very well in the blender, with a little water added. I made sure it was luke warm and only put small spoonfuls in the opposite side of my mouth where the tooth was pulled. At 24 hours I still had not brushed my teeth, since the extraction, just followed the Dr.’s orders to gently swish and “drool” out (NOT spit) the salted water every 2 hours. Everything is fine so far, I started chewing soft foods (bread, peanut butter, yogurt, pea soup, etc.) ONLY on the opposite side than where the tooth was pulled.
lots of good info but you should have included more food suggestions. this site came up when i searched “foods to eat after tooth extractions”
for people having bleeding problems , put a tea bag directly on extraction area with gauze on top . this will help with clotting !
I had an upper molar extracted at 12 noon today. I was very nervous but the Dentist and his staff were wonderful and put me at my ease. I had a little pain when the novocain wore off but a couple of Advil took care of it. I was so hungry by around 3 that I ate some mac and cheese and had a chocolate mousse (Heaven!) I was doing so well and then a friend of mine phoned to check on me and while I was talking to her, I could taste blood in my mouth. Uh oh my socket is bleeding again….Is this normal? I have put some gauze back in but it makes me gag. I hope it stops soon.
I recently had my upper molar removed becuase the tooth was “dead”..My teeth are very tight together and I have insane roots (in my sinus cavity)..the dentist took about 20 minutes just to loosen the tooth in order to pull it! He then told me that the reason why I was in so much pain was due to some infection behind the root..he didn’t give me any antibiotics and just said to take Tylenol for the pain…3 days later, my mouth is just as sore as it was before going to the dentist and I think I have food stuck in the socket.
any advice on how to ease the pain and to get the stuck food out?
I had my molar tooth out last Wed, and i have this white stuff in it. all the left inside of my mouth is blue and feels really odd… its painfull but i am doing ok with out pain killers so it cant be that painfull. This white stuff is that the clot? as its soft and some fell out today.. im just a bit worried it might be an infection or something. MY MOUTH is still numb after a week, never had a tooth pulled ou before so i dont know what to expect,
Foods to eat after extrations: After my tooth extraction, I ate smashed up meatloaf and mashed potatos, the only requirement is that it is soft and easily swallowed. You do not want to choke on what you are trying to eat. The next day I had pizza, I cut it up into little pieces, and was able to chew on one side. And a banana. Just think about what foods are soft. pasta, fish, bread.
i had a tooth out yesterday im a bit worried cause it looks like there is a bit of the tooth still there have you got any advice that u could give me
i had my upper tooth in front of my wisdom tooth pulled today around 2 cuz it was broke in half. the doc gave me some tylenol 3s and they didnt even begin to touch the pain i was experiencing. so i called my dentist 2hrs later. then 5 minutes later they had me some loracet plus called in well they helped for about an hour then id be in so much pain. but its now 10 and its still bleeding. i have changed it like they said. i ate mashed taters and applesauce. this is the worst pain i have ever had and i have had knee surgery. im wondering if the doc did something wrong cuz now my bottom teeth also hurt hmmm
Jennifer,
It depends on whether the dentist has put any cotton plugs there for stoppage of bleeding after the extraction of the tooth and a small part of it left behind when you removed the plug. Or else, if sometimes the dentist didn’t carefully remove the tooth, a part of the root might be left inside, named as Root Stumps which have to be removed to prevent any infections later due to it.
Better visit the dentist once, and get it checked with a radiograph to see if any root stumps are left inside the tooth socket, and get it removed if there.
megan,
There could be a few possibilities, like your tissue around the extraction site might have been damaged, leading to the continuous bleeding, or you might have taken some hot food or drink (which you said you didn’t).
The jaw bone exposed below the tooth removed, gets in direct contact with the air and liquids, this leads to delayed healing of the area. I suggest you to put some cold package there with a small pack of cotton to temporarily relieve the pain and stop the bleeding. Later on, you can continue with the Lorcet Plus (a strong narcotic pain reliever) to control the pain.
Also, if you have any habit of smoking cigarettes, please do keep away from them for a few days till the area completely heals, and try to avoid any food materials to contact that area, or it would lead to a painful and unpleasant odor-emitting Dry Socket formation.
Today I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed. I’m not having terrible pain, in fact I can barely feel it 12 hrs later. They are still bleeding a bit so i just have a paper towel on both sides. Now my question is should I eat with the gauze/paper towel in or should i take it out to eat? Because i cant just chew on one side since i have extractions on both sides. And I was told that normal bleeding only last for 4 to 8 hrs and maybe a little bit of gushing(couldnt think of a liter term) for the 1st 24 hrs. Should I go back if the bleeding persist? I’ve been trying to sleep but I almost choked on the gauze so its really hard for me to get comfortable. Any suggestions?
Shawnta,
Can you confirm whether you got all the 4 wisdom teeth extracted at a single sitting? Because extracting teeth on both the sides is not usually done at the same time. If that’s so, you need to stay away from chewing any food for a couple of days, because pressure due to it on any side can open up the sutures, and further bleeding (may be infections too) would happen due to it.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop, it might be because the cotton (paper towel) is not getting enough pressure from the opposite teeth, to block the blood vessels supplying the area. You better visit a dentist if the bleeding persists. Normal bleeding usually lasts for few hours, but that depends on whether the tooth socket was closed correctly, or if you had given any pressure to that area.
You can just have liquid foods, and more preferably cold food for time being, till the tissue in that area heals properly.
Hey Shwanta,
Its not recommended to go for 4 extractions at one go.. Some dentists prefer this coz it means all done in a single sitting but it is really inconvenient for the patient…
I feel that the patient should have more of a say in this…they should be able to make a more informed decision..
5 days after an upper molar extraction for an abcess, I’m just ending Clindamycin. All is OK except now I have a bad sore throat that started 2 days ago. With wind, rain, and outdoors chill, I’d not be surprised if I’m catching a cold. However, is it a good idea to get my throat cultured anyway to make sure this is not staph or strep or etc? Or would the Clindamycin I’ve been taking make infection extremely unlikely? Thanks for any advice!
To those of you in a lot of post-extraction jaw pain, I have found an over-the-counter topical cream called Myoflex helps tremendously – it has an aspirin base, is not greasy, and disappears when you rub it in. Instant relief. Physical therapists use this cream and I’d highly recommend it. Blue and white tube usually found where you find the topical analgesics in the drugstore.
Also Arnica gel, which can be found in health food stores in a tube, is a bit like putting on ‘mineral ice’ but even better, it is not as cold and lasts longer – great for simply helping to reduce swelling.
Good luck to everybody w/ the post-extraction pain management, and definitely rinse rinse rinse with lukewarm salt water. Amazing how salt can keep bacteria from growing! Think of the traditions of pickling! Yep. You’re doing a semi-pickle of your mouth.