6 Tips For Healing Quickly After A Tooth Extraction

When you have a tooth extracted, the worst of the pain can last for about 5 days. If you continue experiencing severe pain after that point, you should go back in to see the dentist. There are things you can do to help control the amount of pain you experience and to promote a faster healing time. This article will offer you 6 tips on ways you can get through the pain and help the socket heal quickly.

Keep the gauze in place

Firmly bite on the gauze the dentist put in the socket to control the bleeding. Check the gauze about every 30 minutes and if you are still experiencing bleeding, replace the gauze with a new one and keep it in place for an additional 30 minutes.

Don't make sucking motions with your mouth

The clot that forms in the bottom of the socket can dislodge itself if you aren't careful. Sucking drinks through a straw or sucking on a cigarette put you at a very high risk of dislodging the clot.

Don't eat solid foods

You're going to be quite uncomfortable right after the extraction. Therefore, you should stick to foods that require very little chewing. Pudding and mashed potatoes are a couple examples of foods you'll find easier to eat. You can start introducing harder foods once you get to the point where they are easy for you to eat without pain or discomfort.

Don't eat hot foods

Be especially careful not to eat hot foods right after a tooth extraction. Foods and drinks such as soup, tea, hot cocoa and coffee can dissolve the clot that has formed in the socket. 

Stay on top of your medication

If your dentist has given you some prescription pain relievers, make sure to take them as prescribed. If you wait for the pain to come before you take your medicine, you will be in pain for a while until the medication starts working.

Don't mess with the socket

It will feel weird to have a hole where you once had a tooth. However, you should resist the urge to poke around in the socket once it has started healing. Messing with it with your tongue can also dislodge the clot and touching it with your fingers can lead to infection due to the transference of germs that may be on your fingers. Wash your hands thoroughly before you eat also; this will help prevent infection.

For more tips, contact a professional such as Barry Groder DDS.