Six Post-treatment Tips After Extracting Your Tooth

While we try everything possible to preserve all your natural teeth, extractions are sometimes unavoidable. Do you have a severely damaged tooth that’s beyond saving? Or perhaps you have impacted wisdom teeth? Garazi Periodontics & Dental Implants offers advanced dental extractions in Miami, Florida, to relieve pain and prevent further health complications. Drs. Isaac and David Garazi combine light touch techniques with modern pain management methods to administer seamless dental extractions.

Dental extraction aftercare

While our dental extractions are smooth and comfortable, a healing period follows. After an extraction, the body needs time to naturally repair the tissue, close the socket, and regenerate bone in the area where the tooth once sat. Although healing takes a few days, proper aftercare can help you feel more comfortable during recovery.

Follow the instructions below to hasten healing after simple or surgical extraction.

1. Control bleeding: The dentist will place a gauze pad on the extraction site to control bleeding and support the initial stages of healing. Bite firmly on the gauze to help form a blood clot in the socket. This clot acts like a natural bandage, protecting the exposed bone and nerves from infection and irritation. Bite on the gauze pad for about 20-30 minutes until the bleeding stops. However, place a fresh pad if bleeding persists.
2. Pain management: It’s normal to experience pain during healing, especially after the anesthesia wears off. To manage pain, take the prescribed pain medications. Also, put an ice pack near the affected tooth to manage swelling. The dentist may recommend antibiotics to eliminate a lingering infection or prevent new infections. Take your medicines as prescribed and complete the dosage to avoid bacterial resistance.
3. Rest: Rest is the best medicine after any surgical procedure. Take 1-2 days off work and avoid strenuous activities like heavy lifting and rigorous exercises to help your body heal and prevent bleeding. When lying down, keep your head elevated by laying your head on two pillows.
4. Oral hygiene: Keeping your wound clean is vital to prevent infections. Brush and floss the rest of your mouth, but avoid brushing the extraction site to prevent dislodging the clot. Rinse your mouth with salty, warm water to eliminate harmful bacteria.
5. Diet: Eat a soft diet and liquids for the first few days, including broths, mashed potatoes, yogurt, salads, and juices, which should be on your menu until you heal. Avoid spicy, hot, or crunchy foods to avoid irritating your wound. Don’t drink with a straw, slurp soups, or suck on candy to prevent creating a suction that can dislodge the clot. Similarly, avoid smoking and alcohol use during healing.
6. Watch out for warning signs: Although complications are rare, watch out for uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, fever, and increased swelling during healing. Contact us immediately if you develop any of these signs.

Once you heal, you can discuss replacing your tooth with our doctor. A dental implant is often recommended, as it seamlessly fills the gap to restore aesthetics, functionality, and confidence. The implant integrates with your jawbone to provide a stable, long-lasting solution that mimics the look and feel of a natural tooth.

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