Natural teeth are ideal for biting, chewing, and maintaining mouth and jawbone structure, which is why a dentist’s first priority is to help restore, save, and repair your natural teeth. However, sometimes a tooth extraction is unavoidable.
Our dentists will make sure you’re comfortable before, during, and after your extraction procedure. This includes walking you through every step of the tooth extraction, as well as the use of local anesthetics.
Feeling uneasy about your tooth extraction? Be sure to talk to the dentist about how you’re feeling so that they can help.
Sometimes, teeth need to be removed due to decay, disease, or trauma. When you get a tooth “pulled,” it’s called an extraction.
It’s natural that changes will occur in your mouth after the procedure. Here are some general guidelines to help promote healing, prevent complications, and make you more comfortable while you recover.
Follow all instructions given from our office. This will help make sure that your mouth heals properly after your tooth is removed. These instructions will also help to lower your risk of having any problems while your mouth heals.
Your dentist may place a gauze pack on the extraction site to limit bleeding. This will also help a blood clot to form, which is necessary for normal healing. This gauze pack should be left in place for 30 to 45 minutes after you leave the dentist’s office.
Do not chew on the pack. There may be some bleeding or oozing after the pack is removed.
If so, here’s what to do:
A slight amount of blood may leak from the extraction site until a clot forms. However, if heavy bleeding continues, call your dentist. (Remember, though, that a little bit of blood mixed with saliva can look like a lot of bleeding.)
Do not clean the teeth next to the healing tooth socket for the rest of the day.
You should still brush and floss your other teeth.
You can also brush your tongue. This can help get rid of the bad breath and unpleasant taste that are common after an extraction.
Begin cleaning the teeth next to the healing tooth socket.
Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water after meals to keep bits of food out of the extraction site.
To make a salt water rinse: mix half a teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
Try not to rinse your mouth too hard because this could loosen the blood clot. If you have high blood pressure, discuss with your dentist whether you should rinse with salt water.
Avoid using a mouthwash during this early healing period or until your dentist tells you when you are able to do so.
Take pain medication only as directed by your dentist
If your dentist has prescribed medicine to control pain and inflammation, or to prevent infection, use it only as directed.
If the pain medication prescribed does not seem to work for you, don’t take more pills or take them more often than directed — call your dentist.
Call your dentist right away if you have any of these issues
If you cannot reach your dentist, go to a hospital emergency room.
Drink lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods.
Avoid hot liquids and alcoholic beverages.
Begin eating solid foods the next day or as soon as you can chew comfortably.
For the first few days, try to chew food on the side opposite the extraction site.
When it feels comfortable, you should resume chewing on both sides of your mouth.
Other things you should know:
Avoid alcoholic beverages or mouthwash that has alcohol in it for 24 hours.
Limit physical activity like exercise or lifting heavy objects for 24 hours after the extraction. This will reduce bleeding and help the blood clot to form.
If you do get a dry socket, report it to your dentist right away. A dressing may be placed in the socket to protect it until the socket heals and to reduce any pain.
Do not disturb the blood clot that forms in the tooth socket!
The blood clot that forms in the tooth socket is an important part of the normal healing process. You should avoid doing things that might disturb the clot. If the blood clot is disturbed andbreaks down, you can get a dry socket. Dry sockets can be extremely painful. To lower your risk of a dry socket, be very careful to not do anything that can disturb the clot.
For the first 24 hours, do not suck, spit, slurp, or any other action that creates suction in your mouth and puts pressure on your blood clot. This means:
We understand that your entire family is essential to you, so we pledge to treat everyone like family while they visit us.
You’ll find that our office has a warm, welcoming atmosphere that you can’t find at many other practices. We want you to feel at home during your visits, which is why we’ve designed our office with your comfort in mind.
Our team ensures that the waiting room is pleasant and that the receptionist is welcoming and helpful. Our dentists are dedicated to giving the best service possible!
Charlotte Dental Associates provides top quality dental care to every patient. We offer a wide variety of dental services for the whole family in a caring, welcoming environment. Our proven treatments and techniques will help make a positive impact on our patients' dental and overall health.
request an appointmentAt Charlotte Dental Associates, we are committed to providing our patients with the highest standard of care at the most affordable price. Our team is committed to helping you improve your smile and boost your self-confidence.
We want to help you maintain optimal oral health throughout your lifespan. You’ll receive personalized care and excellent customer service when you visit us.
You’ll notice that we go above and beyond to accommodate your needs and make you feel comfortable. You’ll feel right at home in our welcoming office. Visit us today to discover how we can improve your smile and oral health.
