Tooth extractions are a pretty common occurrence in dentistry. Sometimes they’re performed by your dentist, and sometimes, if they’re a more complex extraction, they’re performed by a specialist, such as a periodontist or an oral surgeon. At our Turlock dental practice, we practice a tooth conservation strategy with our patients, but sometimes an extraction is the best option for the overall health of the patient.
In this post, we’ll share some of our best tips to make sure you recover and heal quickly if you ever experience a tooth extraction.
Why Do Teeth Get Extracted?
Common reasons for a tooth extraction include:
- Cavities and severe tooth decay
- A tooth is broken
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Severe gum disease
- Mouth injuries
Many dentists who perform tooth extractions offer sedation dentistry options to maximize your comfort.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?
Tooth extractions can be relatively simple or very complex. Each situation and patient are different. In general, most people bounce back from a tooth extraction after a few days and resume their normal activities. Sometimes, the jawbone will be sore for about a week or two while it heals, but you should be able to get back to your obligations relatively quickly.
Tips for Recovering from Your Tooth Extraction
First and foremost, make sure to keep the area around your extraction site clean. Your dentist will likely give you some kind of anti-microbial mouthwash to rinse with several times a day. Make sure you follow their recommendations to avoid infection and to speed up your body’s natural healing process.
You should be able to brush and floss as normal for most common tooth extractions, but exercise caution around the extraction site when you’re brushing. It’s important to follow your dentist’s instructions as you recover from your extraction and only brush around the extraction site when they’ve told you it’s safe to resume doing so.
It’s important to control swelling and reduce inflammation. There are two good ways to do this. One way is to wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply to your cheek near the surgical site for about 10-15 minutes. Remove the ice pack for 5-10 minutes and then reapply and repeat this cycle. Another way to keep inflammation down is to ensure you get plenty of rest and healthy sleep while you’re recovering.
For the first few days after your tooth has been removed, you’ll also want to avoid strenuous activities that raise your heart rate and affect circulation. Not only can it increase pain and discomfort, but it can also cause bleeding within your mouth to reoccur.
Thanks for Reading!
Make sure to ask your dentist if you have any questions about preparing for or recovering from your tooth extraction.
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