What to do after Dental Extraction from Winter Park Local Dentist
Dental Extraction in Winter Park FL
If you've just had a tooth extracted, there are several instructions and precautions to promote faster healing and unnecessary discomfort. You will generally look to stop the bleeding, promote clotting, and prevent disturbance to the extraction site.
What should I do immediately after an extraction?
Apply biting pressure for 30 minutes to 1 hour with gauze to help stop bleeding and allow a blood clot to form. You should change out the gauze as it becomes saturated. Mild bleeding/oozing following an extraction is normal for up to 24 hours. The primary intention of applying biting pressure is to form a blood clot. Therefore, do not bite so hard that you continue to disturb the area as it is trying to clot. Another trick is using a wet, cooled tea bag to bite down on – as tea contains tannic acids, promoting clotting.
You must also be careful not to accidentally bite your lips, cheeks, or tongue while still numb from the anesthetic. If possible, wait to eat until it has completely worn off.
Mold bleeding/oozing is normal for up to 24 hours. However, if persistent bleeding occurs beyond your control and you cannot stop it by biting on gauze, please call your local dentist or seek urgent / emergency medical attention. Follow these steps right after tooth extraction.
What does my Winter Park dentist recommend to manage the pain from a dental extraction?
Immediate and acute pain should be managed with prescribed medication from your local dentist. Most patients can manage with Ibuprofen up to 800mg every 6 hours (unless you are allergic or have been instructed not to take it). However, depending on your specific extraction and medical needs, your local dentist may prescribe something stronger for your recovery.
In addition to the medication typically helping reduce inflammation, we recommend placing an ice pack on the area of your face where the tooth/teeth were removed. During the first 24 hours, place an ice pack on for 10-20 minutes and then rest for 10-20 minutes to help reduce the swelling. This can be repeated as many times as tolerable to help reduce swelling but is not needed to continue after the first 24 hours.
Additionally, we recommend resting and limiting physical activity for the first 24-48 hours after an extraction. Elevate your head (perhaps with an extra pillow) and avoid lying completely flat.
How can I heal faster from a dental extraction?
Once an extraction site has clotted, your primary goal is to promote the site's healing and avoid disturbing the clot. One of the more painful complications of dental extraction is a "dry socket," in which a blood clot becomes dislodged or dissolved – leading to open and exposed bone underneath.
To minimize disturbance to the clotted extraction site, your local dentist advises not to create any pressure within your mouth – namely through spitting, sucking through a straw, or sucking on candies or lozenges. This pressure can be enough to dislodge the clot and increase the risk of infection or a dry socket.
Additionally, patients should avoid smoking or using tobacco products, which significantly increases the risk of a dry socket.
Finally, avoid disturbing or touching the extraction site with food or brushing. For the first 24 hours, patients should not drink anything hot, carbonated, or alcoholic. Additionally, any foods which are spicy or hot in temperature should be avoided. Soft foods are highly recommended during the first 24 – 48 hours, and you should only chew on the opposite side of the extraction. You must avoid foods that can be stuck in the hole left from the extraction. Foods such as grains of rice, granola, popcorn kernels, or nuts/seeds can become stuck in the extraction site, causing an infection or dislodging the clot.
Regarding brushing, the patient should avoid brushing or flossing in the area for at least 24 hours. To avoid toothpaste becoming stuck in the extraction site, consider brushing without toothpaste or using a toothbrush dipped in mouthwash for the first 24 hours. Do not swish vigorously or spit with force when spitting out or rinsing toothpaste. Instead, tilt your head from side to side to move fluids in your mouth and open your mouth to allow the water to fall out instead of spitting.
If I have problems, should I contact my local dentist?
You should contact your dentist or oral surgeon if the following conditions appear after an extraction:
If persistent bleeding occurs such that your mouth is filling up with blood and you are unable to stop it by biting on gauze
If your pain or swelling continues beyond 2-3 days.
If you have an allergic reaction to any medication you have taken.
If you detect a bad taste or odor in the mouth
How can my local dentist in Winter Park replace a missing tooth? View our dental services in Winter Park.
Following a successful dental extraction recovery, patients often look for a way to replace the tooth. To learn more, see our blog article about Replacing Missing Teeth!
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