Tooth extraction is a dental procedure to remove a tooth from its alveolar socket. It may be performed if the tooth is severely decayed, injured, or impacted. There are common side effects after tooth removal, such as swelling, bleeding, and pain. Continue reading to learn how to cope with them after tooth extraction near you.

The First 24 Hours

The first day after tooth extraction can be uncomfortable due to the expected side effects. You will experience pain, and your gums will bleed at the extraction site. In addition, the area surrounding the surgical site will swell. What you do can ease the discomfort and promote recovery. Below are tips for managing swelling, pain, and bleeding in the first 24 hours.

1. Pain

Once the anesthetics wear off, you will experience pain at the extraction site. Fortunately, the pain will diminish gradually and fade entirely within a few days. Your dentist will anticipate this side effect and prescribe or recommend suitable medications.

They will recommend over-the-counter medications if they expect moderate to mild pain. These are ideal after simple tooth extraction. However, they will prescribe more vital medication if they anticipate severe pain. This may be necessary after a surgical extraction or removal of multiple teeth. Take the medicines as instructed to prevent or manage the pain.

You can also ease the pain by placing cold packs on the side of the extraction. Use them for intervals of 20 minutes. Another way to ease the pain is to eat a diet of soft foods in the first 24 hours. Choose easy-to-eat foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and cool soup.

2. Bleeding

After extraction, you should expect some blood to ooze out of your socket in the first 24 hours. The dentist will place gauze on the socket after removing the tooth to ease the bleeding. They will request you to apply firm pressure on it for the next hour or until the bleeding stops. If the gauze gets soaked, replace it with a new one.

Fortunately, the oozing will stop once a blood clot forms in your tooth socket. The clot prevents bleeding, protects the wound, and promotes healing. Ensure that you do not interfere with clot formation or dislodge the clot. Therefore do not:

• Rinse your mouth
• Spit forcefully
• Create pressure in the socket by using a straw, sneezing, smoking, or blowing a balloon
• Take hot foods
• Take foods with large particles
• Participate in strenuous activities

Instead, consume a liquid diet, get plenty of rest and sleep with your head elevated. If you must sneeze, open your mouth to ease the pressure on your tooth socket. Contact the dentist in Fort Saskatchewan if it does not reduce or the clot becomes dislodged.

3. Swelling

Your gum tissue around the extraction site will be swollen after the procedure. Some people experience swelling on their cheeks, neck, and face near the tooth socket. Fortunately, this side effect eases within a few days and can be alleviated easily.

After tooth extraction in Fort Saskatchewan, the dentist will instruct you on reducing the swelling. They will advise placing an ice pack wrapped in a moistened towel against your cheek. It should be placed in cycles of 15 minutes to prevent burning your skin.

Also, when lying down, elevate your head above your feet. Doing so minimizes the swelling. Consult the dentist if the remedies above do not work since you may have an infection in your mouth.

How Long Does the Pain Last After Extraction?

You will likely experience pain at the extraction site for 3-5 days after teeth removal. The pain will fade as your gum tissue heals. You can ease it by taking pain-relieving medications, using an ice pack, and resting. You should also avoid foods that aggravate the pain. This includes hot, crunchy, chewy, spicy, or complex foods.

However, the pain may continue if you have an infection in the socket, sinus perforation, or dry socket. Therefore, you should contact the dentist in Fort Saskatchewan if the pain cannot be eased with medication or cold therapy. The expert will diagnose the cause of the pain and provide appropriate treatment.

Contact us at Town Crest Dental Clinic for a dental extraction. You can also call us if you have complications during the recovery process after an extraction.