Tooth extraction

To speed up healing, please follow the steps below. Keep in mind that it is perfectly normal to feel some discomfort and to have some swelling in the lower face after a tooth extraction.

Day of the surgery:

• Keep the gauze pads in your mouth for an hour or two, maintaining firm pressure. Replace them every half hour as needed.
• Keep your head upright at all times.
• Apply a cold compress to your cheek at regular intervals (20 minutes of cold per hour).
• If bleeding occurs, bite on a slightly moistened gauze pad or tea bag for about twenty minutes.
• Many patients have some oozing of blood and notice a reddish tinge in their saliva.
• Limit physical effort.

Avoid

• Removing the blood clot, since it helps the area heal.
• Eating before the bleeding has stopped.
• Drinking through a straw.
• Rinsing your mouth or spitting.
• Smoking or drinking alcohol.
• Eating foods that are hard to chew.
• Brushing near the extraction site for the first 72 hours.

Pain

• Take the medication prescribed to you as needed. Take the antibiotics given to you for this treatment for the full number of days indicated, even if you have no symptoms.

Suggested diet

• On the day of the extraction, have only soft foods or lukewarm drinks. Once you feel better, you can go back to eating normally.

From the next day until you have fully healed

• Rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water (2 ml or 1/2 tsp of salt in 250 ml or 1 cup of water).
• Brush and floss every day to remove plaque and support a better long-term result. Avoid brushing around the extraction site for the first 72 hours.
• Avoid hard foods (nuts, candy, ice cubes)
• Some words may be harder to pronounce and you may have more saliva than usual. Everything will return to normal in less than a week.
• Bruises may appear on your face. They will fade within five to seven days.
• Some people have trouble opening their mouth for up to five days after the extraction.
• If the pain gets worse instead of better after three days, don’t hesitate to call us.

Don’t worry: you will most likely feel better after a few days and can return to your usual activities. In case of pain, heavy bleeding, swelling lasting 2–3 days or a reaction to the prescribed medication, please contact us right away at 418 875-0888.