Healing After Tooth Extraction
After having a tooth extracted richmond virginia, it can be attempting to resume your regular diet and daily habits but the longer you allow your body to rest and recover, the easier and shorter your healing time will be! Tooth extraction is not a treatment that should be taken lightly, if your dentist recommends it, it is important that you follow through as soon as you are able to prevent any further infection or damage to your mouth.
How long it takes you to fully heal will depend on the extent of treatment and how well you tolerate it. Your recovery is also dependent upon how well you adhere to your doctor’s post-operative instructions. Postop instructions are developed to help you heal as quickly as possible while avoiding complications. Typically, patients are able to return to their daily activities and regular eating habits after a week of recovery.
What should I expect right after having a tooth extracted?
Having a tooth extracted is not a pain-free experience but the degree of discomfort that you experience as an individual will depend on your personal pain tolerance level. Immediately following an extraction, you can expect to experience a little bit of swelling but that should subside after about three days and should be completely gone after seven days. If you experience swelling that lasts longer than a week, you may have an infection so it is important to get to your doctor as soon as possible.
Within the first few hours after having a tooth extracted, a blood clot will form over the extraction site and protects the underlying nerve and bone structure from infection or damage. The blood clot also acts as a barrier against food particles and other foreign debris. It is also important to take care not to use a drinking straw or to use tobacco products for three to four days right after an extraction. These actions can cause the blood clot to become dislodged and allow the nerve and bone structure to become exposed, which is referred to as a dry socket.
You may also notice a little bit of bleeding or a pink tinge when you spit after brushing your teeth. This is normal and should subside within a few days but if bleeding persists, you may have an infection or some other complications so it is important to get to your dentist as soon as possible. You may find it soothing to rinse with a warm saltwater solution, this can also help clean the area of any food particles.
Are there any restrictions after a tooth extraction?
Your dentist will likely give you a list of the few restrictions in your post-op instructions. The better you are following these directions, the quicker your healing process will be. Some restrictions you can expect may include a soft diet for 10 to 14 days; smoothies, soups, and well-cooked vegetables and pasta are all great options during this part of your healing. You will also want to take care to avoid any foods that are spicy, crunchy, or difficult to chew, as well as alcohol for 7 to 10 days.
As far as your oral hygiene routine, you can continue to brush and floss is normal but take care to avoid your extraction site. Along with the warm saltwater solution, a q-tip can be used to remove any food court particles that may be caught.