Tooth Extraction Aftercare: What to Do After a Tooth is Pulled

Shawn Kimmel • October 10, 2019

Do you know the proper tooth extraction aftercare? Here's what you need to do after you get a tooth pulled.

You've recently had your tooth pulled. Ouch.

Or maybe you're gearing up to have one, or three pulled.

Either way, you need to know about tooth extraction aftercare.

In this article, we'll cover some of the ways you should care for your smile after you've had a tooth pulled.

Whether you had your tooth pulled because of gum disease , trauma or overcrowding, you'll need to continue to care for it to keep your mouth healthy.

Read on for some of the do's and don'ts of caring for your mouth post-extraction.

What Kind of Extraction Did You Have?

Knowing what kind of tooth extraction you had is crucial to the healing process.

For a simple tooth extraction, you're usually awake during the procedure. The dentist or dental surgeon will numb the area and then remove the tooth with forceps. You're almost always awake during these types of procedures. And they heal more quickly.

If you had an impacted tooth or a molar removed, things might be a bit more complex. This would include having a wisdom tooth extracted.

In these scenarios, you may have been under general anesthesia. Or, you could have been "knocked out" with a twilight anesthesia. This means you weren't fully "under," but you may not remember much of what happened during the procedure.

If your tooth was impacted, it was under the gums and the dentist or dental surgeon had to physically open the area. Then, he or she removed the tooth.

This kind of procedure often requires stitches. That means you might have to take a bit more care of yourself than if you had a tooth removed just with forceps.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare: The Basics

There's no way around it: you're going to feel sore after your tooth extraction. No matter what method the dentist used to remove your tooth, it's not going to feel great.

If you didn't have stitches, you'll want to keep the blood clot that formed after the removal in place. If it is removed, this can cause something called "dry sockets," in which the bone is exposed. Not only will this delay healing, but it can cause severe pain.

You'll want to ice the area for 10 minutes at a time throughout the first few days after the procedure. Don't over ice it, as it could cause further issues.

You also need to keep the gauze the dentist or dental surgeon put in place for several hours after the procedure, unless he or she gives you different instructions.

Depending on where the tooth was and how it was extracted, your dentist may provide you with painkillers. He or she will give you express instructions on how to take them. You should follow these instructions to the letter.

If you take painkillers, avoid alcoholic beverages with them. Be careful about driving when you have the pills in your system. It would be good practice not to drive for a few days, or at least until you're not taking the pain medication.

You may also take over the counter painkillers but avoid aspirin. Aspirin thins your blood, which can cause the blood clot above the extraction site to dislodge. In turn, this can lead to dry sockets and severe pain.

The First 24 Hours After the Procedure

For the first 24 hours after the procedure, you shouldn't do too much. You should take the opportunity to rest.

You should lie down, but keep your head slightly raised to ensure you keep the area elevated.

Don't drink anything through a straw, as a sucking motion can cause the blood clot to dislodge. Instead, you should eat and drink soft foods directly.

Do not rinse your mouth or spit for at least 12 hours. Some dentists may request that you wait 24 hours.

After 12 to 24 hours, depending on the dentist, you can rinse with a saline solution. This will aid in the healing process.

The First Week After the Procedure

It will take you about 7-10 days to heal from a tooth extraction. It may take a longer amount of time or a shorter amount of time depending on a variety of factors. If your tooth was impacted, for example, it will naturally take a longer time to heal. If you have any underlying illnesses, this can also delay the healing process.

During the first couple of weeks, you'll want to stick to a diet of soft foods. You'll need to strictly stick to soft foods for the first week. After that, you can gradually add in more solid foods.

You should eat all of your foods, even milkshakes, and smoothies, with a spoon. This is to avoid sucking or slurping which could dislodge the blood clot.

You should avoid hot foods for the first few days, but you can gradually incorporate them.

After about a week or so, you should be able to eat harder foods, but you should listen to your body. If any food causes you pain, switch back immediately to the softer foods.

If you smoke, you should avoid doing so for the first 48 hours after the procedure.

You may brush your teeth the day after the procedure, but you should be careful not to disturb the extraction site. Instead, brush around it. Your dentist may give you more thorough instructions for brushing.

Brushing is important , as it can help brush away bacteria and keep your mouth infection free.

Taking Care of Yourself After a Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction aftercare requires that you practice good self-care. You should take at least one day off of work when having a tooth removed. Depending on the complexity, more days off may be required. Your dentist or dental surgeon will be able to give you more information on the amount of time away expected.

For more information on all things related to dental care, visit our blog .

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