Take it easy for the rest of the day. Take as little exercise as you can, and rest as much as you can. Keep your head up to avoid any bleeding.
Should I rinse my mouth out?
Do not be tempted to rinse for the first 24 hours. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot by eating on that side or letting your tongue disturb it. This can allow infection into the socket and affect healing.
Is there anything else I should avoid?
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours, as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing. Do not eat or drink any hot food/liquid and avoid chewing on that area of your mouth.
When should I brush?
It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your mouth clean after an extraction. However, you do need to be careful around the extraction site.
What do I do if it bleeds?
The first thing to remember is that there may be some slight bleeding for the first day or so. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding. This is due to the fact that a small amount of blood is mixed with a larger amount of saliva, which looks more dramatic than it is.
If you do notice bleeding, do not rinse out, but apply pressure to the socket. Bite firmly on a folded piece of clean cotton materialfor at least 15 minutes. Make sure this is placed directly over the extraction site and that the pad is replaced if necessary.
If the bleeding has not stopped after an hour or two, contact your dentist.
How soon can I have a cigarette?
It is important not to do anything which will slow down healing process. We recommend that you avoid smoking for as long as you can after an extraction, but this should be at least for 24h.
Is there anything I can do to help my mouth?
Different people heal at different time after an extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, making sure that the socket is kept clear of all food and debris. Don’t rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, or Gengigel Mouthrinse which helps to heal the socket
I am in pain, what should I take?
There will usually be some tenderness in the area for the first few days, and in most cases some simple painkillers is enough to ease the discomfort. Do not take aspirin, as this will provoke bleeding from extraction site.
I am still in pain, what could it be?
Sometimes an infection can get in the socket, which can be very painful. This is where there is little or no blood clot in the tooth socket and the bony socket walls are exposed and become infected. This is called a dry/infected socket and in some cases is worse than the original toothache! In this case, it is important to see your dentist, who may place a sedative dressing in the socket and prescribe a course of antibiotics to help relieve the infection. You may also feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and sometimes small pieces of bone may work their way to the surface of the socket. This is perfectly normal.
