Expect a bit of discomfort following a tooth extraction, and make sure you do all you can to encourage the healing process, says Dr. Jimmy Wu of Sutra Dental Spa in La Mesa, California. Here, he discusses steps you need to take to make sure that everything progresses as smoothly as possible, without any hiccups.
Post-operative instruction following a tooth extraction are standard. In the office, your dentist needs to make sure a blood clot has formed properly for healing to begin, so you will need to apply a gauze to the area. Then, when you get home, the first 48 hours after the extraction has taken place are important. In particular, you will need to stay away from rinsing, brushing or irritating the area.
You do not want to use a straw or anything that will create a vacuum or disturb the tissue. Also, smoking is not advised as well, or anything will dry out the mouth. You definitely want also to stay away from spicy foods and alcoholic beverages, and to stay on a soft foods diet.
Don’t Irritate the Stitches
Then, after those 48 hours, comes the question of stitches, which most people will have. You still want to stay away from anything that will irritate the stitches, and do regular warm saltwater rinses. Also, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or an antimicrobial rinse such as chlorhexidrine. After 48 hours, you can rinse with that.
If you have stitches or sutures, they are usually removed one week after. Sometimes we use dissolvable sutures that do not have to be removed, but your dentist will probably still want to see you regardless of what sutures have been used.
Complete Healing
Usually you are looking at six to eight weeks for complete healing. Your dentist will probably have you back one week after the initial visit for a check up to make sure the tissue is not irritated. Again, throughout the healing process, you want to stay away from anything that could dry out the mouth — not just during the first 48 hours — and irritate the socket, which can be painful.
If the pain is bad, then pain medication can be taken if needed, as well as antibiotics. But make sure to drink plenty of fluids and not take antibiotics on an empty stomach. Also, quiet activities are recommended, as lowering the blood pressure promotes healing.
