After Extraction: Planning a Smooth Recovery After Getting a Tooth Pulled

Nobody wants to have a tooth extracted, but sometimes it’s necessary to preserve your oral health. As important as it is to prepare for the extraction procedure, it’s also important to plan for a smooth recovery.

At Hometown Family Dental Centers, with convenient locations in Fayetteville, Raeford, and Vass, North Carolina, we offer tooth extractions for our patients. We generally use a local anesthetic for a simple extraction, but we can provide sedation dentistry if you have a complex case or fear the procedure.

We also provide detailed aftercare instructions, so you’ll know exactly what you should and shouldn’t do during your recovery. Here’s how you can plan for that period.

Why would you extract a tooth?

As dentists, our job is to help you preserve your teeth and overall oral health. However, if the damage is too severe to repair or your teeth are causing problems with your bite, we recommend an extraction.

Other reasons you might need a tooth extraction include:

• Decay or infection reaches deep into the tooth
• Trauma or injury
• The tooth is loose in its socket
• Not enough room for all the teeth in your mouth
• Baby teeth don't fall out in time for the permanent teeth to come in
• Create room for moving teeth in orthodontic treatment
• Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are impacted in the gum or are too big for the mouth

Many people, even those with good oral health, need to have their wisdom teeth removed due to impaction or because by the time they come in, they already have 28 teeth filling their mouth, and there’s no room for the newcomers.

What is the extraction procedure like?

When you come in for an extraction, the dentist gives you a local anesthetic to numb the area. As we’ve mentioned, if you’re particularly fearful, we can sedate you to ensure you’re relaxed.

Once you're comfortable, the dentist removes any gum tissue covering the tooth. Then, using forceps, they gently rock the tooth back and forth to loosen it from the jaw socket and pull it out. If the tooth is large or rocking isn’t loosening it enough, they may break it into smaller sections and remove each one.

Bleeding is common after a tooth extraction. The dentist may have you bite down on gauze to stop the bleeding and allow a clot to form over the wound. You may also need a stitch or two in your gums to let them heal. These stitches usually dissolve on their own in a week or so.

What does a smooth recovery look like?

An extraction isn’t major surgery, but it may take a few days to recover fully. Here’s how to plan for a smooth recovery:

Use an ice pack on your cheek directly after the procedure and throughout the first day or two for 10 minutes to reduce swelling.

Take any medications as prescribed, including over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

Rest and relax for the first 24 hours; your body’s had a trauma, and you need to recuperate. Don’t try to jump into your regular routine too quickly. You should feel well enough by the second day to ease back into it.

Don’t use a straw for the first 24 hours, as it could dislodge the clot from the wound, causing a painful condition called dry socket syndrome. If you develop dry socket, you’ll need additional treatment.

Don’t rinse your mouth for 24 hours after tooth extraction; spit only gently. Anything more vigorous could dislodge the clot.

For the first few days, stick to soft foods, like yogurt, pudding, and applesauce. Anything hard or sharp could injure the extraction site.

Put extra pillows on the sofa and bed to prop your head up when lying down.

You can brush and floss your teeth normally, but not at the extraction site. The bristles and floss could injure the sensitive gum tissue.

After 24 hours, use a saline rinse. Add a half-teaspoon of salt to eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day for a couple of days. 

If you experience severe pain that doesn’t go away after several days, or if you notice signs of an infection (e.g., fever, pain, and pus or drainage from the incision site), make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as possible.

Got a tooth that’s broken or painful? Hometown Family Dental Centers can help. Call us at the nearest office, or request an appointment online.