Home Care After a Tooth Extraction

Tooth Extraction San Jose, CA

After a tooth extraction procedure, it is important to follow the aftercare tips provided by the dentist to ensure full healing and prevent complications. The first few days after the treatment are crucial, and a quick recovery will mean that you can resume your normal activities as soon as possible. This article highlights a few routines to follow at home after the procedure.

Home after care instructions

It is important to avoid any activity that might disrupt the healing process. This means limiting exercises, not rinsing vigorously, avoiding smoking or alcohol intake and not brushing around the area for at least three days.

Handling bleeding

After the tooth extraction, a blood clot will form naturally to halt bleeding and initiate the healing process. The dentist will ask the patient to bite on a gauze pad for a few minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing continues, the patient should replace the gauze pad and bite firmly for at least 30 minutes. This can be repeated several times until the bleeding stops.

Patients need to be careful not to disturb the clot and avoid vigorous exercise for at least a day after the tooth extraction. This may increase blood pressure and cause more bleeding, break the clot and prevent quick healing. If the bleeding continues, be sure to reach out to the dentist immediately.

Handling swelling and pain

If a tooth has been extracted, patients may experience pain and swelling. This often occurs as part of the healing and recovery process. Applying an ice pack or closed bag of frozen peas over the area will reduce the swelling. Swelling should subside within a day or two.

The patients may also need to take pain medications and antibiotics according to the dentist’s instructions. This will help reduce pain and prevent infection. Patients must continue to take the prescribed antibiotics for the specified duration, even if they are no longer experiencing signs of pain or infection. If the medication seems to be ineffective for the pain, contact the dental office.

Diet

On the day of the procedure, patients need to take in as many fluids and nutritious, soft foods as they can. Unless otherwise instructed, normal meals can resume as soon as the patient feels comfortable enough. If nausea sets in after the procedure, drink flat soda (like Pepsi or Coke) or eat soda crackers.

Oral hygiene

With tooth extraction, it is important to keep the mouth clean for proper healing. Therefore, a normal dental routine should resume after a day. This means brushing and flossing the teeth at least once or twice a day. Keeping the mouth clean will help keep infection away and ensure quick healing after the procedure.

Final note

If severe bleeding pain or swelling persists for another two or three days or you experience an adverse reaction to medications after a tooth extraction, please reach out to the general dentist. The home care instructions provided should help ensure healing and recovery.

Request an appointment here: https://mysanjosewillowglendentist.com or call Dental Smiles of Willow Glen at (408) 827-9479 for an appointment in our San Jose office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Tooth Extraction in San Jose, CA.

Recent Posts

How Soon Can I Use Toothpaste After A Tooth Extraction?

The idea of having to get a tooth extraction may spark anxiety in patients, however, they are often necessary in order to restore good oral health. While the extraction itself can cause discomfort, the part that patients should get familiar with is the healing process. After the procedure is complete, the wound will have to…

What To Avoid After A Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a procedure done to remove a damaged or potentially problematic tooth. Like every dental procedure, the wound created by the extraction process heals over time with proper care. The dentist will provide the necessary aftercare instructions to follow.Aside from using the recommended medications and resting adequately, there are certain things to avoid…

Benefits Of Replacing A Missing Tooth Immediately

Replacing a missing tooth as soon as possible helps prevent issues that lost teeth can cause, like bone tissue deterioration in the jaw, an increased risk of tooth decay, and the remaining teeth moving out of their proper alignment.Let us take a look at a few of the benefits of replacing a missing tooth with…

Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can replace a section of missing teeth. They look and function essentially the same as natural teeth. If you are missing multiple teeth and are considering a dental bridge, then learning more about what it is exactly and who is an ideal candidate for treatment is helpful in determining whether treatment is appropriate.There…

Recent Posts

General Dentistry Restoration Options: Dental Bridge

General Dentistry Restoration Options: Dental Bridge

General dentistry happens to include restoring teeth that are in bad shape or completely missing. Of course, a restoration is meant to bring the tooth back to its original shape, form, and function. However, in some cases, this is not all the way possible, making it necessary to undergo something like a dental bridge placement.…

Multiple Dental Implants Vs  Dental Bridge

Multiple Dental Implants Vs. Dental Bridge

Dental implants are a great way to replace multiple missing teeth. A dental bridge is also a solution for multiple teeth replacement in many cases as well. By learning more about the pros and cons of each option, it will help you decide which treatment option is right for you. Missing teeth create a cosmetic, functional…