Having a tooth removed is something patients tend to prefer not to think about, but sometimes it is the best way of dealing with a tooth which cannot be repaired or is causing persistent and ongoing problems. Despite the anxiety being told that an extraction is needed can cause, the procedure is usually straightforward and fairly brief. It is following an extraction that patients need to take a little care, both for the health of the extraction site and for their own comfort. We we will discuss this in today\u2019s blog and we hope you find it useful.<\/p>\n
Once the tooth has been removed, your dentist will usually place some gauze over the area and ask you to bite down on it for a short while. This helps to apply pressure to the area and encourages a blood clot to form in the socket. This clot is important as it acts as a natural dressing over the extraction site and provides protection while the gum begins to heal beneath it. You might notice a little blood in your saliva during the first few hours following your appointment. This is entirely natural and a small amount of blood is usually nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n
It is important that you avoid \u2018poking\u2019 at the socket with your tongue or fingers. It might be tempting, particularly because you can feel the gap, but doing this may dislodge the clot and disrupt the healing process.<\/p>\n
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It is a good idea to have a quiet day following an extraction if you can, particularly if the procedure was less straightforward. While it isn\u2019t usually a \u2018serious\u2019 medical procedure, it can cause you to feel stressed and rest will also help the initial recovery along. You should also avoid strenuous exercise for a while and take care when bending down as this can lead to increased blood pressure in the area which can sometimes encourage bleeding. Smoking is definitely to be avoided. This is particularly important because smoking can interfere with healing and increases the risk of a painful condition known as dry socket. Alcohol should be avoided too while the area is healing, especially immediately after the extraction.<\/p>\n
There is no need to starve yourself after having a tooth removed, but you will probably find softer foods more comfortable for the first day or two.\u00a0 Soup, scrambled eggs, yoghurt, mashed vegetables, pasta and other foods which do not require much chewing are good choices. Try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth to avoid dislodging the blood clot. Be careful with very hot food and drinks while the area is still numb. It is surprisingly easy to burn your mouth without realising it. As the area starts to heal after a few days, you can gradually return to your normal diet, but do so cautiously and bear in mind that it is better to be safe than sorry. A couple of days of softer foods will do no harm and will allow the site a little longer to heal.<\/p>\n
For the first day, you should avoid brushing directly over the socket. You can clean the rest of your teeth as normal, which is important because keeping your mouth reasonably clean helps to reduce the risk of problems such as infections during healing. Your dentist may advise you when to start gently rinsing the area. After the first 24 hours, warm salt water rinses are sometimes recommended. These should be gentle rather than vigorous. You do not want to dislodge the blood clot which has formed in the socket by swilling the saline solution vigorously in the mouth.<\/p>\n
Some discomfort after an extraction is completely normal. It is often most noticeable once the local anaesthetic has worn off. If you can normally take them safely, ordinary painkillers can be useful. Follow the instructions on the packet along with any advice your dentist has given you. If there is any swelling, particularly after a more complex tooth extraction<\/a>, a cold pack held against the outside of the face for short periods can help during the first day.<\/p>\n The discomfort should generally begin to improve rather than becoming progressively worse and if you find that this is not the case, or if you have any other concerns, please do contact the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic team.<\/p>\n Occasionally, the blood clot in the socket might break down or become displaced before the area has properly healed. \u00a0This can lead to a condition called dry socket.Rather than simply being a little sore, a dry socket can cause quite significant pain. The pain might also develop or become worse a few days after the extraction and can sometimes spread towards the ear or jaw. Again, please contact us if you feel that this might be the case with you.<\/p>\n A small amount of bleeding can happen during the first day, even after a clot has formed. If the socket starts bleeding more noticeably, sit upright and place clean gauze over the area, then bite down gently for around 20 to 30 minutes. Try not to keep removing the gauze to see whether the bleeding has stopped, as this can interfere with clot formation. If significant bleeding continues despite applying pressure, contact our dentists for further advice.<\/p>\n The gum will gradually heal over the following days and weeks. You may notice that the socket feels quite deep at first, particularly with your tongue, but this will gradually change as the tissues repair themselves. The length of time needed varies according to the tooth which was removed and how complicated the extraction was. A straightforward extraction can settle relatively quickly, while a surgical extraction may take longer.<\/p>\n Most extractions heal without any real problems, but it is important not to\u00a0 ignore symptoms which seem unusual or are getting worse. Contact our Canterbury dentists<\/a> if you develop severe or increasing pain, significant swelling, persistent bleeding, fever or other symptoms which concern you. It is always better to ask than to keep your fingers crossed and allow the situation to worsen. It can be tempting after an extraction to get back to normal as quickly as possible. In most cases, however, the best thing you can do is give the socket a little time and leave it alone. Follow the advice you have been given, keep the rest of your mouth clean, avoid smoking and strenuous activity initially, and choose foods which are comfortable to eat.<\/p>\n A little soreness is to be expected, but the important thing is that things gradually improve. Before long, the extraction site should become much less noticeable and your mouth can get back to normal.<\/p>\n If you would like any advice following a tooth extraction or would like any other dental related information, please call the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Advice for our Canterbury patients who are due to have teeth removed. Having a tooth removed …<\/p>\nDry sockets<\/h3>\n
Bleeding clot<\/h3>\n
How long does healing take?<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t hesitate to call us<\/h3>\n