A slight teeth problem can distract you from your daily work or school activity. Patients that disregard any symptoms of gum or tooth disease can expect their cavities to spread. Once a tooth cracks decays, or chips away, there is an increase in bacterial infection. Choosing to visit a dental clinic for emergencies such as severe toothaches can save your dental health. Furthermore, you need to follow the dos and don’ts after tooth extraction to prevent gum disease.
Why Do You Need A Tooth Extraction?
A dentist can recommend you to have tooth extraction for two reasons. One is due to cavities that are eating away your enamel and dentin. You may see yellow or dark brown spots on the surface of your tooth. Cavities and plaque can make matters worse if you don’t give immediate treatment. On the other hand, tooth extraction is recommended for removing impacted wisdom teeth that affect your jaw bone. Don’t be afraid of going to the dentist with the symptoms of pain and gum clenching. Individuals that may need wisdom tooth extraction must go to a dentist immediately for initial signs of migraines or headaches along with toothache.
Dos and Don’ts After Tooth Extraction (Postoperative Care)
Oral surgery such as a tooth extraction has several challenges, both for the patient and the dentist. It is essential to make sure that speedy recovery and correct healing of the gums take place. Deep socket after an extraction is an indication that your gums were disrupted from healing. Here are some dos and don’ts after tooth extraction that your dental clinic will instruct.
Dos:
All do’s and don ‘ts after wisdom tooth removal surgery can help your aftercare. Let your mouth rest for post operative care and learn from these do’s to avoid complications.
- Eat Soft Foods After A Few Hours
Dentists recommend their patients to change their diet plan for a week to ensure that blood clot formation is 0normal. Reason being, hard food such as meat or raw vegetables and fruits may hurt the newly extracted gum area. Soft foods are perfect to still get the nourishment you need without having side effects of pain or clenching. Several suggestions from doctors are soup (not too hot), mashed vegetables, and dairy products. If you are unsure of the diet meals that you should take during this time, call your oral health provider.
- Apply An Ice Pack
You can support a faster and better healing process of your gums by applying an ice pack on the area where the surgery was done. Ice packs prevent swelling, so place it on your cheeks for 15-20 minutes. You can also do repeated cycles while lying down with two to three pillows or when walking around the house.
- Do Daily Hygiene Carefully
You may feel that your local anesthesia hasn’t worn off for quite some time. Nevertheless, you need to make sure that you floss or brush away from the wisdom tooth surgery surrounding area. Recovering from treatment doesn’t necessarily mean you put aside your hygiene routine. You can use a soft toothbrush with gentle strokes on your gums and teeth.
- Put A Gauze Right After The Extraction And Replace Frequently
As soon as your extraction is finished, your dentist will place gauze on the area to protect it from exposure. It is recommended to replace your gauze frequently to avoid other infections that may occur. A clean gauze can help quick extraction healing and improve your overall oral health care.
Don’ts:
On the contrary, you have to ensure that your dos and don’ts after tooth extraction can avoid bleeding and swelling of gums.
- Avoid Smoking, Alcohol, Or Sugar
Smoking tobacco or cigarette, alcohol, and chewing where the surgery is can traumatize the soft tissues. These habits can also increase bacteria buildup, which prevents the cells from regenerating in the gum line. Sugar is the energy source of bacteria, so avoiding sugar for a while can help your removal or extraction to close. Apart from the side effects of the substances found in these products and food ingredients, sucking with pouting lips can increase pain. These habits can lead to a dental abscess or an infection on the root of a tooth. Don’t forget to follow your dentist’s instructions so the do’s and don’ts won’t need to be repeated.
- Prevent Touching Your Tooth Extraction Site
Pushing your teeth with your tongue, or checking it with your fingers can make your situation worse. This habit can introduce bacteria on the surgery site or can take away the saliva that your gums and tooth need. If you are feeling irritated or have the tendency to touch the wisdom tooth extraction site, rinse it instead with saline water to help it heal.
- Don’t Forget To Visit Your Dentist
An oral health care provider can give you a painless extraction. But, prescribed medication after a tooth filling, surgical procedure, or wisdom tooth surgery can decrease symptoms of pain afterwards. Your emergency dentist can also review other details that you may add on your do’s and don’ts list.
What To Do In Case Of Dental Emergency
In the experience that your gums are still bleeding after 24 to 48 hours, it can still be regarded as a normal procedure after extractions. Yet, if you see signs of pus, darkening gums, or severe migraines, go to a hospital or clinic for an emergency. Don’t wait for days until you visit a dental specialist. The do’s and don’ts that you have read in this article will be useless if you’re not aware of dental emergencies. Your recovery procedure will be faster if you follow these tips that we have after your extraction.