Dentistry has, thankfully, come a long way since the days when the only cure for a toothache was the local barber sitting on your chest and pulling the tooth with the aid of nothing more than a pliers and a shot of whisky. Now, a good dentist only uses extraction as a last resort. Unfortunately, it can still be necessary for a number of reasons, from damage to overcrowding. If you or a loved one has to undergo this procedure, the right tooth extraction aftercare will help minimize the discomfort and prevent further problems. Here’s our advice.
The first thing to do after a tooth is extracted is to control the bleeding. The dentist will place a wad of gauze over the extraction site and you should bite down on this firmly until the bleeding stops and a clot forms in the tooth socket. If this isn’t happening and the bleeding persists, replace the gauze with a teabag. Tea contains tannic acids that will help form a clot. Even after the clot forms, you might experience some slight bleeding on the first day. This is perfectly normal and no cause for concern.
Your dentist will prescribe painkillers and you should take them as directed. Driving while taking pain meds is not a good idea as they might make you feel drowsy, and if you’re taking any other medication, over-the-counter or prescribed, remember to tell your dentist about it before the procedure.
After the procedure you’ll experience some swelling and possibly bruising of your face. To minimize this, make an icepack (put ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a thin cloth) and apply it to the swollen area for 10 minutes, then take it off for 5, and repeat as necessary.
You shouldn’t try to do too much for the first 24 hours after the procedure. Take it easy during the day and go to bed early. You’ll probably be feeling sleepy from the pain meds so this won’t be hard. Sleep with your head slightly raised.
We hope you found the advice above useful, and following it should help you recover quickly from having your tooth pulled. Thank you for your time.