Studies have shown that patients with good oral health tend to have better overall health. This is one of the reasons why it is important that you visit your dentist regularly and that you follow his or her recommendations regarding oral care.
At times, it is required that a patient received tooth extractions. Although this is not a major surgery, it is important to pay attention to this. In this blog article we discuss some of the things you should do immediately after receiving a tooth extraction.
Once a patient has received a tooth extraction, the highest priority is to control bleeding. To do this:
- Bite pieces of gauze placed on the gum for at least half an hour. Keep in mind that it is normal for some blood to still come out for several hours. The bleeding should go away slowly. If after a few hours the amount of blood increases significantly, call your doctor.
- Do not spit or drink liquid through a straw, as the pressure can cause more bleeding.
- Avoid touching the wound with your tongue. Keep your head high, supported with pillows, or stay seated until the bleeding is controlled. It is best not to smoke, but if you smoke, you must wait 24 hours after the operation.
To clean your mouth:
- Do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth twice within 12 hours of the procedure. After that time, gently brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with warm salt water every 2 or 3 hours.
- Brush your teeth gently, avoiding touching the affected gum.
Specific details and your diet:
- Try to sleep at least 8 hours at night and avoid strenuous activities until 24 hours have passed from the extraction. Rest is very important.
- Eat a soft diet and try to drink as much fluid as you can during the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Avoid hot foods and do not drink with a straw.
To relieve the pain and discomfort:
- Start taking painkillers before the effect of the anesthesia disappears.
- Take the painkillers given by the dentist with food and water to avoid nausea. Even if you take painkillers without a prescription, do not overdo the dose. Follow the package instructions and physician.
- It is normal to have swelling and lasts up to 4-6 days. To reduce it, apply ice to the area during the first 24 hours after removal, but no more than 20 minutes at a time.
With a few precautions, extraction discomfort will disappear gradually and in a few days you can get back to your normal life.