How to Take Care of Your Mouth After a Tooth Extraction
You are going to brave the dentist's chair and have a tooth extraction. You thought that you and your teeth would stay together forever, but some things we just cannot hold on to.
Finally, that throbbing, bothersome tooth that wakes you up in the middle of the night will be gone. And you deserve a pain-free recovery. To make sure of it, you need to learn what your gum needs from you after a tooth extraction.
What happens during a tooth extraction?
If a patient has a condition like a medical implant or a weak immune system, the dentist may prescribe medication before and after the extraction.
After the dentist numbs the tooth or puts the patient under, they will pull the tooth. The patient should feel pressure, but not pain.
How a tooth is extracted will depend on the reason why it needs to go. For example:
1. In the case of an impacted tooth or a tooth that is broken off at the gum line, the dentist will open the gum and the bone to expose the tooth underneath. They will loosen the tooth, pull it out and finally, they will stitch the gum back together with dissolving stitches. This process is called a surgical tooth extraction.
2. For an erupted (normal) tooth, the dentist may not have to cut into the gum. Using the outer part of the tooth as leverage, they will loosen the tooth and pull it out.
After the extraction, a blood clot should form at the socket of the tooth. The patient may experience mild pain and discomfort, and the gum will have a wound that will need to heal. And unlike wounds on the outer skin, the gum wound will remain wet and will require extra care.
Here is how to take care of the gum after the procedure.
Care after tooth extraction
1. A person with a medical condition that weakens their immune system should continue to take their course of antibiotics.
2. After the tooth is removed, the dentist will place a piece of gauze on the wound. The patient should bite on it for 20-30 minutes. The gauze dries the wound and allows it to form a clot.
After 30 minutes, the bleeding will subside. It is normal to observe slight bleeding for around 24 hours after the extraction. Bleeding that continues two or three days after the extraction will need the dentist's attention.
3. Immediately after the extraction, as the patient bites down on the gauze, the patient holds an ice pack to the mouth for 10 minutes.
3. A person should avoid smoking or using a straw until the gum heals. The sucking motion of such actions can dislodge the clot at the tooth's socket.
4. To manage discomfort, the patient can use over the counter painkillers or any medication prescribed by the dentist. They should take the pain medication as directed by the dentist.
5. To help the wound heal faster, a person should rinse the mouth with salt water, starting one day (24 hours) after the surgery.
6. If the injury is excruciating and keeps bleeding two days after the extraction, see a dentist. Chances are a clot did not form in the tooth's socket.
7. If a person has trouble swallowing, fever-like symptoms, numbness in the mouth or increased swelling, they should seek medical attention immediately.
Tooth extraction is usually a straightforward procedure
Most of the time, pulling a tooth is a minor procedure that goes off without a hitch. With proper at-home care, the gum heals in a matter of days. However, complications can happen, and when they do, they should be taken seriously. If the extraction does not go as planned, consult a dentist immediately.
Contact one of our dentists to learn more about tooth extractions.
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For more information or to schedule an appointment with Apple Tree Dental Studio, request an appointment in our Avondale dental office here: https://dentistavondale.com. Or call us at (623) 536-3377.