- After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the extraction times. If bleeding hasn’t stopped with a few hours, call our office to speak to the doctor.
- After the blood clot forms, it is important to protect it especially for the next 24 hours. The following activities will dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Do not:: smoke, suck through a straw, rinse your mouth vigorously. spit, clean the teeth next to the extraction site
- Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours, this keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding and helps the healing process.
- After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.
- Use pain medication only as directed, and call the office if it doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, https://www.cdhfinechemical.com/cdh_data/antibiotics-online/ continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
- Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. (Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods.)
- You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable.
- Gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day beginning the day after the extraction (a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). Also, rinse gently after meals, it helps keep food out of the extraction site.
- It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours; this should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.
- Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication.
