If you have recently had your teeth pulled or extracted, proper aftercare is essential to ensure the extraction wound heals uneventfully.
After a tooth is removed, it leaves a hole in the jawbone. As soon as the tooth is pulled out, this hole gets filled with blood, which forms a blood clot. This blood clot is essential for proper healing as it contains essential substances and cells that start wound healing and subsequent bone formation in the area.
All the aftercare measures that are taken is to ensure that the site does not get infected and blood clot remains in place and does not get dislodged.
Now that we have briefly discussed the healing phase let us talk about tooth extraction aftercare.
Do’s
- After extraction, the surgeon will ask you to bite down gently on a piece of gauze. Make sure this gauze piece stays in place for 30 minutes, after which you can carefully and gently remove it.
- Usually, an antibiotic course is prescribed to prevent infections. Please take your medicines on time and complete the entire course.
- Your dentist may also give prescription painkillers to help you deal with the post-extraction pain if any.
- Consume soft and cold or room temperature food and beverages.
- Chew from the side opposite to the extraction site.
- Maintain good oral hygiene while ensuring you do not disturb the blood clot.
Don’t
- Do not suck through a straw as it may dislodge the blood clot.
- Do not spit and rinse your mouth forcefully or gargle post tooth removal.
- Do not smoke or consume alcohol.
- Do not consume anything hot or warm.
Contact us at Wilmington Periodontics and Implants immediately if the pain persists or the bleeding does not stop. If you have any more questions, please reach out to us, and our team will be there to assist you.
