Tooth extraction post op Instructions

After getting a tooth pulled

Your priority is to control bleeding, ensure successful blood clot formation and preventing the clot from getting dislodged and minimizing post-surgery discomfort/pain and swelling.

Bite Down on the gauze and swallow your saliva.

After the tooth extraction, minimal bleeding from the extraction site is normal. We will give you some gauze pad to place on the extraction site(s) and bite down on and you should also swallow your saliva. No spitting. The gauze would soak up whatever bleeding you have from the extraction site. Change the gauze out every 20-30 minutes. You may have to change it out about 3 or 4 times every 20-30 minutes following extraction. 

You do not need to keep the gauze in your mouth all day long and do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth. If you do not have enough gauze pads, you may use a tea bag instead.

Do not chew anything While you are still numb.

The local anesthesia that the doctor uses last about 3 hours on average. Do not chew anything while you are still numb. Because you are numb, if you try to chew anything, you may self-inflict harm by biting on your tongue, your lip and cheek without knowing. In order to avoid self-harm do not chew anything until the numbness from the local anesthesia wears off. If you are hungry, you can eat but don’t chew and it is highly recommended that it be soft diet. Usually food that do not require chewing that you can simply just swallow.

List of foods you can eat after getting a tooth pulled.

1. Soups
2. Milkshake
3. Pudding
4. Smoothie
5. Mashed Potato
6. Oatmeal
7. Yogurt
8. Ice cream
9. Applesauce
10. Scrambled Eggs
11. Mashed Banana
12. Avocado
13. Salmon (Read more)

These types of food should be avoided after getting your teeth pulled.

• Spicy foods
• Crunchy and crumbly foods
• Most grains and seeds
• Chewy foods
• Acidic foods (read more)

Take your Pain medication before the numbness wears off. 

As soon as the numbness wears off, you may feel some discomfort in your mouth from the extraction site. To prevent this and keep the discomfort very minimal, make sure you use your pain medication as soon as possible after the surgery. The Local anesthesia usually lasts about 3-5 hours depending on each individual. Also, keep in mind it is going to take some time before the pain medication kicks in so use it as soon as you can so that when the anesthesia wears off, the pain medication would have kicked in that way you will not feel pain post-surgery.

No Smoking, No Alcoholic/Carbonated drinks for 48 hours post tooth extraction 

Avoid Soda/Carbonated drinks as well as alcohol for the first 48 hours after extraction as they can weaken the blood clot that forms in the extraction site after the tooth extraction. If the blood clot is weakened, it may get dislodged easily and that can predispose you to a condition called dry socket. Dry socket is a very painful condition that is preventable.

Do not suck on anything. Do not drink with a straw and absolutely no smoking/vaping. 

Sucking on anything like you would when you smoke/vape or drink anything with a straw creates a negative pressure in your mouth, this can make the blood clot to fall out which predisposes you to dry socket. 

Refrain from any stressful activities including working out and lifting heavy stuffs.

It’s important to relax and take it easy for the first few days after your tooth extraction. If you have undergone a surgical tooth extraction, you should wait at least 72 hours before exercising. Exercise can lead to an increase in blood pressure, which can cause the extraction site to bleed. Worst of all, the blood clot that grows in the extraction area after surgery may be dislodged, leading to dry socket.

Dealing with Stitches and Swelling

If stitches were placed, they most likely will be resorbable stitches. You will not have to come back for the Doctor to remove them because they will resorb between 10-14 days or fall out by themselves. 

If you have had a surgical extraction that involved the removal of bone, some swelling is normal post op. Place some ice packs on it the first 24 hours to minimize the swelling. 

You can start brushing, flossing and you can begin to eat normally again after 48-72 hours. Everybody heals differently..

After the First 48 Hours post surgery

After your tooth is extracted, your body will start its natural healing process. Your extraction site will begin to clot from the first day after your tooth extraction. Within the first 24 hours, a blood clot will begin to form in the socket and the bleeding will stop After the blood clot has formed, your body will start building granulation tissue to cover the wound. This tissue often appears a creamy white color and consists of collagen, white blood cells, and blood vessels.

Salt and warm water rinse after tooth extraction

After the first 48 hours, start rinsing your mouth with salt and warm water.  How to rinse with salt and warm water

1. Put a teaspoon level of salt in a tea cup of warm water and stir it together
2. Hold the water in your mouth, (do not swish around) for a minute and then spit it out.
3. Repeat until you finish the tea cup 6 times daily. Before and after every meal for 7 days.

When to call us

It is normal to still have some discomfort for several days after a tooth extraction but call us right away if you have any of the following: 

1) Severe pain because the pain medication is not effective 

2) Heavy or increased bleeding 

3) Pain or swelling that extends beyond 72 hours post tooth extraction surgery 

4) A reaction to the Medication 

5) A bad taste or odor in your mouth 

6)Bone speckle/fragment around the tooth extraction site that irritate your tongue, cheek or lips 

Related Posts