Dos And Don'ts After Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a very normal and relatively speedy procedure of dentistry. It is done by dental practitioners using local or general anaesthesia. One may need to have a tooth extracted for a number of reasons like the decay of teeth which is not treatable, mobile teeth, over-retained milk teeth or in a few cases where extraction is required before the treatment of braces, etc.

However, remembering what to do after tooth extraction is as important as getting professional medical assistance on time. One does not need medical knowledge to know that after tooth removal the socket (area of gum where the tooth used to be) is very tender and may continue to bleed, resume bleeding and/or pain for a few days.

Also Read :- WHAT ARE TRANSPARENT/INVISIBLE TEETH BRACES?

Some symptoms are expected post-removal but asking your doctor what to look out for and what may be a red flag can help you a long way. We are also here to remind you of the “after extraction of tooth and what to do checklist.”

Expected After Effects Of Tooth Extraction

Pain - Since it is natural to expect some amount of pain after the anaesthesia wears off, your doctor will prescribe you painkillers like paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc. Taking these medications will depend on the amount of pain and length of it, however, you must remember to not drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence.

Swelling - Swelling is directly proportional to the surgery and is completely normal in the case of tooth extraction. Post-surgery, the swelling may increase for 2-3 days and can be noticed in the mouth, cheeks and sides of the face. Using an ice pack for the first 24 hours (5 to 6 times a day) and a hot moist compress after 36-48 hours will help reduce the swelling.

Bleeding - Bleeding may happen post-extraction, clot formation to stop bleeding and speed up the healing process takes time. That is why it is recommended to bite on a piece of gauze after surgery and your doctor will also provide you with more gauze to use in case the bleeding resumes later.

Gum discolouration - discolouration of the skin tissue around the surgical site is nothing to be alarmed about. If you see black, blue, green, or yellow colours around your surgery location, know that it is due to blood spreading underneath the tissue. The development of discolouration is observed till 2-3 days post-op and will be healed quickly if moist heat is applied (after 24 hrs of surgery).

Difficulty in swallowing - Having difficulty swallowing after such a procedure along with sore throat and pain is not uncommon. Since the muscles get swollen even the normal act of swallowing can become distressing or painful. But do not worry, it will subside in a few days.

Dislodging of stitches - Also known as sutures may dislodge from the operative site sometimes. They are placed depending on the magnitude of surgery and to prevent excessive bleeding. It also speeds up the healing of the surgical site. But if you realise that the stitches have come undone, just remove and discard them without panicking (and report it to your dentist).

Post Tooth Extraction Care

Why must you know about the ‘Dos and Don'ts’ after tooth extraction? So that you don't hurt yourself unknowingly and delay the restorative process. There are some very specific points to keep in mind for tooth extraction aftercare.

DOs	DONT’s
Keep head elevated while resting and sleeping	Don’t do physically straining activities for a day or two
Begin with liquid and eat soft food	Don’t consume hot food or liquid
Chew away from the surgical site	Don’t use toothpicks or any object to remove lodged food from the socket
Begin proper oral cleaning after every meal from the next day	Don’t use a hard bristle brush or rinse on the same day as surgery
Bite on gauze if you resume bleeding (and report to your dentist)	Don’t smoke, or suck on straws very hard for at least the next 3 days, to avoid ‘Dry Socket’ condition (blot clot dislodging)
Take all medications for the number of days prescribed even after you start feeling fine	Don’t skip medication or avoid reporting to your doctor if you are having an allergic reaction them (or any discomfort)
Use an ice pack for the first day and hot pack after 2 days of surgery	Don’t use a hot pack the first day it may increase bleeding

If you be mindful of these important points, the post-operative care after tooth extraction will be like a piece of cake. Although, remember the most important thing, listen to your doctor’s advice and speak to them if you see any of the red flags.

We at MyDentalPlan -India’s largest dental network, are always here to support you, visit https://mydentalplan.in/ and speak to skilled and experienced dentists on video consultations. Our network clinics are spread across PAN India and are very easily accessible, just give us a call @ 18001027526