Speeding up Recovery after Tooth Extraction

Present-day tooth extractions are nothing like tooth removal earlier or as depicted in the movies. The dentist in Peoria doesn’t come charging you with hammers and chisels but ensures you receive adequate anesthesia to experience no discomfort from the removal.

However, tooth extraction near you represents trauma to your body and requires you to care for it appropriately until the wound heals. The Peoria dentist provides comprehensive after-care instructions to ensure your recovery proceeds smoothly. Following the instructions diligently makes it convenient for you to recover from the traumatizing event and get back to your regular activities earlier than expected.

What Are the Peoria Dentists Instructions?

Let the Gauze Remain in Place

Dentists place gauze pads over the extraction site soon after tooth extraction to prevent bleeding and help in clot formation. You receive instructions to let the gauze remain in place for at least two hours. Clot formation would have been completed after two hours, stopping all bleeding. Therefore, you can remove the gauze after two hours.

Take It Easy

One of the tooth extraction benefits provides you with some much-needed rest immediately after the removal. The dentist instructs you not to engage in any strenuous activities for at least 24 hours after tooth removal for fear of dislodging the blood clot. Exercises that raise your pulse risk opening the wound at the extraction site.

Don’t Touch the Wound

The new Gap in your mouth will likely appear and feel strange. The gap may encourage you to handle it with your tongue or fingers. However, you must ensure you don’t touch the wound with anything until it heals to prevent the blood clot from dislodging and delaying recovery. Avoiding touching the wound benefits you because it prevents bacteria from entering the extraction site to create infections.

Painkillers

You will experience some pain after tooth removal. However, it is not an invitation to gorge on any painkillers you can lay your hands on. Stick to the prescription or recommendation of your dentist, including the dosage. Do not consider aspirin which is a blood thinner that will delay healing by slowing down clotting.

Don’t Smoke or Drink

Please stay away from tobacco use for at least 48 hours after tooth removal because the chemicals in the smoke can hinder the healing process and even provoke severe complications like inflammation of the empty socket. Alcohol also proves as a deterrent for clot formation causing new bleeding and delaying your recovery.

Avoid Mouthwash

You must make a conscious effort to avoid mouthwash even if you have a horrible taste in your mouth. Mouthwash contains alcohol, and rinsing and spitting the mouthwash can promote the opening of the extraction site. However, if the awful taste persists for over 48 hours, contact your dentist for advice.

Eat Carefully

Hunger may not be high on your mind after tooth extraction. However, you must keep yourself nourished by having soft foods in small portions and avoiding complex and chewy foods to safeguard the blood clot. You can have cooked vegetables, but you must stay away from raw vegetables like carrots or fruits.

Sip Drinks

You must ensure you do not dehydrate yourself after tooth removal, especially if you encounter heavy bleeding. When you are thirsty, you can have small amounts of fluids at room temperature. However, you must not use a straw for sucking the liquid and avoid scorching drinks until the extraction site heals. Freezing drinks and also shock you, causing sensitivity in the tender areas.

Use an Ice Pack

Experienced dentists from Westbrook Village Dental recommend using an ice pack on your cheeks to reduce swelling and speed up your recovery. However, please do not keep the ice pack continuously on your cheeks but limit them to 20-minute intervals to avoid damages to your cheeks. If the ice pack causes itching sensations or increases the pain, stop using it immediately and contact your dentist if the symptoms continue.

The discomfort from the tooth removal procedure lasts for around a week, after which it subsides. Unfortunately, if you feel uncomfortable even after 24 hours, you must speak to your dentist or oral surgeon, who can recommend the best course of action for you going ahead. Tooth extractions are relatively standard among adults throughout the globe. Following the tips mentioned above will help you with your recovery, making it easier for you to return to your regular routine within a short time.