After Regular Tooth Extractions
After Tooth Extraction
- Ice packs help minimize the swelling. Apply the ice pack for 24–48 hours after surgery.
- For pain — mild or moderate: take 2-3 200 mg tablets of Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) every 4 hours.
- For pain — severe: take the pain medication prescribed to you. If the pain persists for more than a few days, please call Alliance Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Finish any antibiotic prescription you receive, unless you have an allergic reaction.
- Drink at least 6 glasses of liquid the first day after your surgery. Keep up fluid intake in the days ahead. This will help replace blood lost, especially during multiple tooth extraction.
- Adjust your diet: liquids and soft foods that are comfortable for you to eat are the key. As the wounds heal, you will be gradually be able to integrate your favorite foods back into your diet.
Multiple Tooth Extractions
Extracting many teeth in one procedure is very different from getting one or two teeth pulled. The reshaping and recontouring of the bone prior to insertion of a denture can cause one or more of the following conditions, all of which are within normal post-operative expectations:
- Swelling of the area operated on, as well as swelling and discoloration around the eyes. Apply a warm, moist towel to alleviate discomfort and accelerate normalization of the discolored area. Keep the towel on the area continuously for as long as you can tolerate it, beginning 36 hours after surgery (reminder: ice should be used in the first 36 hours only). Swelling should peak 2–3 days after surgery and begin subsiding afterward.
- Drying and cracking of the corners of your mouth may occur, especially if your mouth had to be stretched during your procedure. A gentle ointment like Vaseline will keep your lips smooth and moist.
- A slight fever 24–48 hours following surgery is common. If your fever continues, or is abnormally high, call our office.
Post-op self-care (at home)
When you get a tooth pulled, the next thing that needs to happen is for a blood clot to form. This stops the bleeding and allows the healing process to begin. After your extraction, bite down firmly on a gauze pad for 30–45 minutes. If the area still bleeds or oozes, grab a clean gauze pad and bite on it for another 30 minutes. It may take several tries with this to stop the bleeding entirely.
Once the blood clot forms, it is crucial that it not be disturbed or dislodged. That means no mouth rinsing, no drinking liquids through straws, no smoking, no alcohol, and no teeth brushing near the extraction site for 48 hours. Any and all of these activities may result in the clot getting dislodged or dissolved, which will further delay the healing process. Also, refrain from vigorous exercise for at least 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and could also cause more bleeding.
Pain and swelling are normal occurrences following the extraction of a tooth. To keep this to a minimum, put an ice pack on the affected area. Don’t have one? An unopened bag of frozen peas or corn can fill in quite effectively. Take your pain medication as prescribed, follow your oral surgeon’s orders, and your pain and swelling should subside after a few days.
Prescription pain medication should only be used as needed, and if used at all, it must be taken as directed. If the medication doesn’t feel like it’s working, call our office right away. Any antibiotics prescribed should be taken until all the pills are gone, even you have no signs or symptoms of infection. Ample fluids and soft, nutritious food should be consumed on the day of the Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. Then, start eating normally again as soon as you are comfortable doing so.
After the initial 24-hour post-op period, you should resume your normal oral hygiene practices. Brush and floss your teeth at least once a day to facilitate healing, and keep your mouth fresh and clean.
You should feel fine after a few days and ready to get back to your normal work, school or exercise routine. Heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling, or a reaction to the medication, should be followed by an immediate call to our office.
Bleeding
Following multiple tooth extractions, you will experience a small amount of bleeding. Deal with this by placing a gauze pad right on the bleeding socket and bite down on it for 30–45 minutes. If bleeding keeps up, moisten a black tea bag, and bite down on it for thirty minutes. Black tea contains tannic acid, which facilitates clotting by contracting blood vessels. If you do all this, and you’re still bleeding, elevate your head and avoid hot liquids and exercise. If that doesn’t work, call our office immediately. If you have dentures, do not remove them unless the bleeding is severe. Oozing around the side of the denture is normal.
On your first post-operative day, or while you still have some bleeding, do not rinse your mouth. On the second day, a warm salt water rinse every 4 hours and following meals is recommended for to flush out particles of food and debris that may settle in the divot where the tooth used to be. Mix one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. After your general dentist has adjusted your dentures, take your dentures out and rinse 3 to 4 times a day.
Sore spots may develop if dentures have been inserted immediately. Your general dentist should see you within 24–48 hours after surgery to make necessary adjustments and address those areas. Failure to see your dentist in a timely fashion may result in severe denture sores, which will delay the healing process.
