Your Post-Extraction Recovery Guide

Teeth don’t always last a lifetime. Gum disease, abscesses, and severe physical trauma are all common reasons why dentists sometimes need to remove a natural tooth. The good news is that your options for restoring your smile are better than ever. Once you recover from the extraction procedure, you could undergo implant dentistry procedures for a second chance at a beautiful, healthy smile.

Stopping the Bleeding

It’s normal to have a little bleeding when a tooth is taken out. Your dentist can give you a sterile gauze pad to bite down on. Try to keep it in place for about 30 minutes to stop the bleeding, or as directed by the dental staff. If you’re still having a little bleeding, place a moistened tea bag on the site and bite down gently on that.

Drinking and Eating

Once the bleeding stops, you should start giving yourself fluids. Avoid hot liquids—lukewarm and cool beverages are fine. Avoid using straws, as the suction can dislodge the blood clot. You should be able to eat about two hours after your appointment, as long as the bleeding has stopped. Stick with soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and cooked vegetables.

Minimizing Swelling

After any oral surgery, a little facial swelling is to be expected. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the exterior of your jaw. Ice the area for up to 20 minutes at a time, and then leave the ice pack off for 20 minutes before applying it again. Avoid using heating pads, as this will worsen the swelling.

Maintaining Oral Hygiene

Your dentist will give you instructions for brushing your teeth while the area is healing. About 12 hours after surgery, you may rinse and brush, but avoid the surgical site, and only spit very gently. Spitting forcefully can dislodge the blood clot. The day after surgery, you can start swishing gently with lukewarm salt water.

Here at Glenwood Premier Dental, we want to make your dental experience as positive and comfortable as possible. After your tooth extraction, you can have implant dentistry at our office to replace your natural tooth with a permanently secured, synthetic version. You can reach our implant dentistry office in Hazlet at (732) 264-4477.