Take it easy for the rest of the day. Take as little exercise as you can, and rest as much as you can. Keep your head up to avoid any bleeding. Show
What precautions should I take?Avoid hot food or drinks until the anaesthetic wears off. This is important as you cannot feel pain properly and may burn or scald your mouth. Also be careful not to chew your cheek. This is quite a common problem, which can happen when there is no feeling. If you do rest, try to keep your head higher for the first night using an extra pillow if possible. It is also a good idea to use an old pillowcase, or put a towel on the pillow, in case you bleed a little. Should I rinse my mouth out?Do not be tempted to rinse the area for the first 24 hours. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot by eating on that side or letting your tongue disturb it. This can allow infection into the socket and affect healing. Is there anything else I should avoid?Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours, as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing. Eat and drink lukewarm food as normal but avoid chewing on that area of your mouth. When should I brush?It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your mouth clean after an extraction. However, you do need to be careful around the extraction site. What do I do if it bleeds?The first thing to remember is that there may be some slight bleeding for the first day or so. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding. This is due to the fact that a small amount of blood is mixed with a larger amount of saliva, which looks more dramatic than it is. If you do notice bleeding, do not rinse out, but apply pressure to the socket. Bite firmly on a folded piece of clean cotton material such as a handkerchief for at least 15 minutes. Make sure this is placed directly over the extraction site and that the pad is replaced if necessary. If the bleeding has not stopped after an hour or two, contact your dentist. How soon can I have a cigarette?It is important not to do anything which will increase your blood pressure, as this can lead to further bleeding. We recommend that you avoid smoking for as long as you can after an extraction, but this should be at least for the rest of the day. Is there anything I can do to help my mouth?Different people heal at different speeds after an extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, making sure that the socket is kept clear of all food and debris. Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area. Keep this up for at least a week or for as long as your dentist tells you. It is important to keep to a healthy diet; and take a Vitamin C supplement, which will help your mouth to heal. I am in pain, what should I take?There will usually be some tenderness in the area for the first few days, and in most cases some simple pain relief is enough to ease the discomfort. What you would normally take for a headache should be enough. However, always follow the manufacturer's instructions, and if in doubt check with your doctor first. Do not take aspirin, as this will make your mouth bleed. Are there any medicines I should avoid?As we have said, it is important not to use anything containing aspirin as this can cause further bleeding. This happens because aspirin can thin the blood slightly. Asthma sufferers should avoid Ibuprofen-based pain relief. Again check with your chemist or dentist if you are worried or feel you need something stronger. I am still in pain, what could it be?Sometimes an infection can get in the socket, which can be very painful. This is where there is little or no blood clot in the tooth socket and the bony socket walls are exposed and become infected. This is called a dry socket and in some cases is worse than the original toothache! In this case, it is important to see your dentist, who may place a dressing in the socket and prescribe a course of antibiotics to help relieve the infection. You may also feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and sometimes small pieces of bone may work their way to the surface of the socket. This is perfectly normal. Will my dentist need to see me again?If it has been a particularly difficult extraction, the dentist will give you a follow-up appointment. This could be to remove any stitches that were needed, or simply to check the area is healing well. People who viewed this page also visited
Published: 4th January, 2017 Updated: 3rd October, 2022 Author: Share this page At the Oral Health Foundation, we love the holidays however we are asking people to be extra careful as to what is on their wish list this year. You may want that dazzling bright and perfect smile to really impress at that party. Often people try to take shortcuts to get those results, but you may not get what you want. The first week in December is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week. ISSUE 96 | NOVEMBER 2022 This month we are raising awareness about mouth cancer during Mouth Cancer Action Month. Our charity campaign is all about educating the public about risk factors, importance of check-ups and prevention. People wear dentures, plastic or metal, to replace lost or missing teeth so they can enjoy a healthy diet and smile with confidence. Bad BreathBad breath is a very common problem that a lot of us are scared to address, but sometimes the solution can be very simple. Bridges and partial denturesThese replacement options for missing teeth are often recommended for oral health purposes as well as cosmetic appearance. Burning mouth syndromeBurning Mouth Syndrome can be an extremely uncomfortable condition which can have several potential causes. Children's teethGetting the younger members of the family into good oral health habits early can make them much easier to maintain in the future. Caring for my teeth and gumsA healthy smile can be a great asset and it is because of this that it makes sense to give your teeth the best care possible. Cold soresA cold sore is a small, painful, raised area of small, fluid-filled blisters which usually last for between five and seven days. Cosmetic treatmentA visit to the dentist is not just about a check-up or a filling. Many are now turning to cosmetic dentistry to improve their appearance. Cracked teethThere are several ways in which your tooth can crack or break and it is important that you get it seen to as soon as possible. CrownsAn ideal way to repair teeth that have been broken, a crown (or 'cap') would fit over the remaining part of a tooth. Most read
Tag cloudbad breath Campaigns Dental health Dental hygiene awareness Free check up Mouth Cancer Mouth Cancer Action Month National Smile Month Oral Cancer Oral health Patient story Safebrace Smilathon Smiley Sugar TMA Tag 1 When can I drink cold drinks after tooth extraction?Diet: It is important to maintain good nutrition and proper fluid intake following extraction. Eat a lukewarm, soft diet for 48 hours. Do not drink through a straw or drink carbonated beverages (soda or alcohol, to include mouth rinses containing alcohol) for 48 hours. Read more at Dahlquist Dental…
Should I drink cold or warm water after tooth extraction?Aside from applying ice packs on your face and cheeks after the surgery, you should also drink ice cold water. Ice does not just reduce swelling, but the coldness is also a great pain reliever, numbing the area of your mouth that is affected.
What can I drink after tooth extraction?You should drink plenty of water after your tooth extraction to keep the extraction site clear and prevent infection. Remember to not drink through a straw, though, since the sucking motion can disturb the extraction site.
Can I rinse my mouth with cold water after tooth extraction?Don't rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area.
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