top of page

 

INSTRUCTIONS

AfterTooth extraction .

The first 24 hours after Extraction

  1. After your tooth has been pulled, some amount of bleeding will occur, possibly for some time.

  2. Place firm pressure on the gauze or cotton placed on extraction site for 45 minutes or longer.

  3. Make sure the gauze wad is positioned, and is large enough, that when you bite down on it it's able to apply ressure directly onto the extraction site(If you bite down and your teeth come together fully, you may not be placing much pressure on the gauze.)Applying pressure over an extended period is the key.

  4. It is both firm pressure and maintaining this pressure over a prolonged period of time (45 minutes or so) that are important factors when this technique is used.

  5. Don't keep changing the gauze, and don't chew on it. Just put it in and then clamp down on it for 45 minutes to an hour.

Controlling bleeding with a tea bag.

If your bleeding seems to persist when you are at home, a dampened tea bag can be more effective than gauze.

One of the components of tea (black tea, the regular stuff you would use to make iced tea) is tannic acid. Tannic acid aids in the formation of blood clots, thus making this method a very effective technique. 

Repeat as needed

If some bleeding still persists after the completion of a 45 minute application, then repeat these instructions.

After each subsequent application, the amount of bleeding that remains should be noticeably less. If heavy bleeding persists, then contact your dentist.

Avoid

  • Avoid vigorous rinsing or spitting. These activities may dislodge the clot.

  • Stay away from hot liquids (soup, coffee) because they tend to dissolve blood clots

  •  Avoid smoking or using a straw (these activities create suction).

  • Also, don't blow your nose. And if you need to sneeze, sneeze with your mouth open.

  • If you play a 'wind' musical instrument, ask your dentist when it will be OK to resume playing.

  • Avoid strenuous work or exercise. You should also avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects. In general, it's not a bad idea to just take it easy for the rest of the day following your surgery.

  • When you sleep or lie down, position yourself so your head is above the level of your heart. (Prop your head up using an extra pillow.) This positioning will lower the blood pressure level at your head, which is a favorable thing for controlling bleeding.

 

Swelling may occur

Trauma created during the extraction process can result in tissue swelling. The amount that forms might be very slight, almost unnoticeable.

 

Avoid smoking

People who smoke tend to experience a higher level of complications with extraction site healing. That means if you can avoid smoking for the first 24 hours (and preferably 48 hours and longer) after having your tooth pulled, it will be to your benefit.

Continue on with prescribed antibiotics.

Any antibiotics prescribed by your dentist should be taken as directed, to completion. This includes continuing on with them even after your tooth has been removed.

What to Eat.

  • After a difficult extraction, a soft (nothing hard or crunchy) or even liquid (dietary supplements, milk shake) diet might be indicated for the first 24 hours or so after your surgery.

  • For simpler extractions, just making sure that you do your chewing somewhere else should be precaution enough.

 

  • It makes good sense to avoid relatively hard or crunchy foods as a general rule because they may accidently wind up in the wrong area and traumatize your extraction site or cause it to bleed.

  • Hot liquids (such as soup or coffee) will tend to dissolve the blood clot that has formed in the tooth's socket, so they should be avoided. Also, you should avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.

 

Precautions with numbness.

After your tooth has been pulled, some portion of your mouth will still be numb, possibly for some hours. Besides just the area immediately surrounding your extraction site, this will likely include some aspect of your lips, cheeks or tongue too.

This sensory loss can result in accidents. As examples ...

  • You might unknowingly bite your lip or tongue while chewing, possibly even repeatedly.

  • You might not be able to test hot (temperature) foods and beverages adequately, which could result in burns.

  • Some patients, especially children, may find their numbness a novelty and will bite on, or chew, numbed tissues (lips, cheeks or tongue). This may result in significant damage.

In regard to this issue, children must always be monitored during periods of numbness.

Cleaning your teeth.

  1. It's important for you to maintain good oral hygiene over the days and weeks while your extraction site is healing.

  2. On the day your tooth is pulled.it might be best to avoid brushing those teeth that directly neighbor your extraction site. You can resume cleaning these teeth the following day but be gentle.

  3. During the first 24 hours after your extraction, don't rinse vigorously when you perform your oral hygiene. Doing so might dislodge the blood clot that's formed in your tooth's socket.

  4. It's also best to avoid the use of commercial mouthwash or mouth rinse. These products may irritate your extraction site.

 

bottom of page