4 Questions About Aftercare For A Tooth Extraction
Posted on: 9 March 2022
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Do you need to have a tooth extracted, and you're wondering what sort of care has to be done afterward? If so, you'll want to know the answers to the following questions.
What Potential Complications Can Happen?
There are a few issues that can come up after a tooth is extracted. Pain, swelling, and bleeding are common issues that will likely happen, even if the procedure is successful. However, you want to take steps to prevent the socket from becoming infected, which can result in a trip back to the dentist.
How Do You Treat Pain?
It's a good idea to take over-the-counter pain medication to deal with pain related to tooth extraction. Ibuprofen is one option that could be helpful to take due to how it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with reducing swelling. Be aware that you should be taking the pain reliever before your anesthetic wears off. The extraction site is going to feel painful, and you can get ahead of the pain by taking the pain reliever early.
How Do You Treat Swelling?
Swelling can be treated by using cold temperatures against the extraction site. The best way to do this is by using an ice pack or something that's cold from the freezer. Don't leave the ice pack against your skin for too long, since you want to give the skin a rest from the constant exposure to the cold. Make sure to use ice for the first couple of days after the procedure to deal with swelling when it will likely be the worst.
How Do You Treat Bleeding?
The bleeding should hopefully stop before you head home, and you will be given gauze to apply light pressure to the extraction site. You can stop using the gauze when the bleeding has stopped though, and only use them if the extraction site starts to bleed again. Wetting the gauze and applying light pressure can do a great job at stopping the bleeding.
The key to preventing bleeding is to take steps to keep the blood clot in place. This can be done by not using straws or doing anything that creates a sucking motion in your mouth, which will cause a blood clot to easily become dislodged. In addition, eat soft foods and avoid anything that can get stuck in the extraction site. If the blood clot comes out, you may experience dry socket and prolong the recovery process.
Contact your dentist if you have additional questions.