The First Few Days After A Tooth Extraction

If you are going in to have a tooth extracted, you may be anxious about the healing process. It's best for you to educate yourself on what to expect and how you should care for the area before you go in. This will prepare you for everything and make you feel better about your upcoming appointment. This article will give you information on what those first few days will be like and how you can go about taking proper care of your mouth.

Proper care of the socket

One you have your tooth extracted, the dentist will pack a piece of gauze in the socket. The gauze will help control the bleeding until a clot forms down in the socket. This clot will then stop the bleeding and it should stay in place where it will promote fast healing of the socket. To keep this clot in place, avoid any sucking actions such as drinking from straws or smoking cigarettes for the first 72 hours after the extraction.

If the clot becomes dislodged, it can lead to what is known as a dry socket. Since the clot is no longer in place, your bone and nerves will be exposed to anything that enters your mouth. A dry socket can be very painful and your dentist may need to give you prescription pain medication to get you through the pain. 

Eating after a tooth extraction

After you have had your tooth extracted, you should be careful of what you eat. Hot and cold foods can cause you a good deal of irritation. Soft foods that require very little chewing are the best choice. Pudding, yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and applesauce are a few examples of foods you'll find easy to eat. As you start healing, you'll find it more comfortable to add solid foods back into your diet.

Dealing with the pain

The worst of the pain should pass after a few days. Until that point, you should take your prescribed pain relievers at the suggested times. Don't put off taking them or you can find yourself really hurting while you wait for them to kick in. You can also apply cold packs to the outside of your mouth to help relieve some of the pain. This will also help with the swelling.

Now that you are better informed on how to care for your mouth after a dental extraction, you'll feel more confident going in to have it done. Dentists like Ashton Randall P DDS can help answer any other questions you may have.