How to Recover From A Tooth Extraction

Anyone getting ready to have teeth removed worries about the recovery process. How painful is it going to be? Will it be a long process? Read on to find out things you can do to make this process a lot easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. The first thing you must do to start a speedy recovery is not let the pain get the best of you. Pain relief is most effective post extraction if you begin your pain medication BEFORE the numbness wears off. Take any prescribed or over the counter pain relief as soon as possible after the extraction and more often then not you won't ever deal with terrible pain as long as you continue taking the medication on the schedule your dentist has advised you of.
2. Bleeding is a major concern for most people, but easily controlled. Your dentist will most likely give you a package of gauze to take home to assist in control of the bleeding. Change gauze as necessary and apply firm pressure while it is in your mouth to help stop the bleeding. The bleeding should stop within the first couple of hours, but if it does not and heavy bleeding persists then do not hesitate to contact your dentist about the issue. Sporadic bleeding wills sometimes occur in some people, but reapplying gauze and some firm pressure will usually stop the small amount of bleeding within 20 minutes or so.
3. Use ice packs to help alleviate as much swelling as possible. There will naturally be some swelling no matter what actions you take but applying a cold compress can reduce it drastically. A good rule to follow with applying cold compresses are 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. This will not only help reduce any swelling you have but can also assist in controlling bleeding while the blood clot forms in the tooth socket.
4. Be sure to get plenty of rest after a tooth extraction especially if it was wisdom teeth removed like it is most often. While resting keep your head and shoulders elevated on 2 to 3 pillows to help minimize swelling.
5. Smoking or using a straw for the first 48 hours is a big no no! Anything that causes suction in your mouth puts you at risk of working loose the newly forming blood clots and can lead to a very painful recovery because it can cause 'dry socket'. For more information on 'dry socket' I have listed an informative link below.
6. Now having teeth removed may have you thinking you are not going to be able to eat until the healing process is over, but that is not true. It is recommended by most dentists and others who have gone through the process to start off with soft foods for the first 3 to 4 days since these are easier to chew and do not put as much strain on the jaw bone. Yogurts, puddings, soups and ice cream are just a few examples of tasty soft foods you can eat while recovering.
7. After the first 24 to 48 hours you can begin using a warm salt water rinse to help remove food particles from the extraction site and to assist in the healing process. You should also continue with cleaning your teeth as you normally would without touching the extraction site to help keep bacteria at bay that can cause painful infections.
8. As long as you follow these steps your recovery process should be relatively short and painless. Always remember that if something concerns you do not hesitate to call your dentist for guidance.