If you have a broken or abscessed tooth that you know needs to be removed it will be easier for you if you take care of it sooner rather than later. Give us a call and we will try to get you in as soon as possible to look at the tooth and take care of it for you.
HOW TO HEAL FASTER AFTER TOOTH REMOVAL
APPLY PRESSURE WITH GAUZE TO STOP THE BLEEDING
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times. If you run out of gauze, you may take a tea bag of any kind and firmly bite down on it for 30 minutes. Pink or blood-tinged saliva may be seen for 2-3 days following the surgery and does not indicate a problem.
MINIMIZE SWELLING TO MINIMIZE DISCOMFORT
Swelling is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and healing. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Apply the ice to the outside of the face, 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off, while awake for the first 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, stop using ice and use a warm moist heat compresses to relieve swelling and aid in muscle discomfort. The swelling will begin to decrease after the third day.
PAIN MEDICATION
Unfortunately, it is normal to experience mild to moderate pain after a tooth extraction. Try to take some pain medication before the numbness wears off. Ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), are both good over the counter medications to take that will also help to minimize swelling. Dr. Kamodia recommends 600mg of ibuprofen (3 tablets) every 6 hours for the first 3 days. If that is not providing enough pain relief, alternating the ibuprofen with extra strength Tylenol (500mg) will help.
HOW TO PROMOTE FASTER HEALING
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do NOT smoke, suck on straws, or rinse vigorously for one week. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24-48 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
DIET
Your first day will consist of soft, cool foods such as: yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and ice cream. Soup is a great option as long as it is room temperature. Avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, chips etc., which may get lodged in the socket. Focus on drinking lots of fluids and eating soft, nutritious foods.
LONG TERM HEALING
The best way to prevent infection and ensure healing is to keep your mouth clean. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery by rinsing GENTLY with warm salt water. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste every morning and night to keep your teeth and the extraction site clean. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh.
After a few days you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, or swelling that is not decreasing after 3 days please call our office immediately.
5 SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE AM IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH
Oh the pain! You may have noticed a twinge here and there for the last few weeks and been praying it would go away on its own or it may have started all of a sudden in the middle of the night. Either way, something is wrong, it hurts, and it’s time to have it taken care of. There are a few signs that are very common when an impacted wisdom tooth gets infected and today’s video goes into more detail about the symptoms. You may notice: 1) Throbbing pain in the back of your mouth2) Swollen, tender, and bleeding gums3) Swelling around your jaw or pain and difficulty opening your mouth4) Headaches or pain that radiates to your ear5) Bad taste or smell coming from your mouth As a general rule, this usually happens at the most inconvenient time possible. The most important thing to do is call a dentist (call us!) and be treated right away. It’s not going to get better on its own and the sooner you have it treated the faster you will be felling better.