If you’ve scheduled a tooth extraction, you may be wondering how to take care of your mouth afterward. In this post, you’ll learn exactly what you’ll need to do during recovering and which symptoms should prompt you to contact the oral surgeon.
Severe decay, a cracked tooth, gum disease, and crowding are possible reasons for needing a tooth extraction. If you are experiencing dental pain, Dr. Chris Tye can give you an exam and take x-rays to determine if a tooth extraction is the right treatment for you. Contact our Colleyville oral surgery office today at 817-552-3223.
Aftercare Instructions for Dental Extraction
Pay attention to these instructions! They’ll help you minimize discomfort, risk of infection, and they’ll promote a speedy recovery.
- Keep your gauze in place. To help control the bleeding, don’t remove the gauze dressing until at least two hours after the surgery. This gives the extraction site time to create a blood clot. If it becomes soaked, quickly remove it and replace it with a new gauze pad.
- Avoid exercise. Running, dancing, and other physical exertion cause blood pressure to rise and may result in more bleeding. The best thing you can do the day of your procedure is to go home and rest after your visit.
- Avoid smoking, drinking from a straw, and rinsing your mouth. Each of these will encourage dry socket, a condition in which the blood clot that aids in healing becomes dislodged. Dry socket is painful and increases recovery time.
- Eat soft foods. For the first 24 hours following your dental extraction, soup, pudding, eggs, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal are safe options for your diet. Avoiding hard foods reduces the potential for pain.
- Apply ice. Buy an ice pack or make your own at home, cover it with a towel, and place it on the swollen area of your face for ten minutes at a time to decrease inflammation and discomfort.
- Keep your head elevated. Don’t sit up or lie on your side or stomach. Lie on your back with a couple of pillows for support.
- Brush your teeth. Keeping your mouth clean will help prevent infection. However, you should avoid the extraction site so that you don’t dislodge the blood clot.
When to Contact Your Oral Surgeon
Mild discomfort, some bleeding, and localized swelling are completely normal for the first 48- 72 hours following your procedure.
The total healing period will last between one and two weeks, but after the first day, your pain and swelling should significantly decrease and the bleeding should stop.
Complications are rare, but it’s our job to make sure our patients are informed, just in case. Contact the doctor if you experience any of these symptoms after your tooth removal:
- Fever with chills or sweating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abnormally intense swelling, redness, or smelly discharge from the extraction site
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or a new cough
If any other symptoms cause concern, our friendly staff will be happy to talk with you over the phone to help you determine whether a visit to our office is necessary.
A Second Opinion Never Hurts
If you’re just not certain that you need extraction, a second opinion is a great idea. Dr. Tye and our team will provide you with a comprehensive exam, thorough explanation of your situation, and professional treatment. Dr. Tye’s experience and training will allow him to remove your tooth safely and effectively, so you can expect a healthy recovery.
Patients with significant dental anxiety, special needs, or a health condition that won’t allow sitting in a dental chair for any amount of time should ask about sedation. As a medical doctor and oral surgeon, Dr. Tye is certified and experienced in providing sedation dentistry of various levels, in the comfort of our Colleyville office.