Once you’ve had your teeth extracted, you’ll need to take a few steps to protect your oral health and ensure a swift, complication-free recovery process. Dr. Blalock will give you a set of instructions to follow, but here are a few quick “dos” and “don’ts” for your initial recovery period.
DO
Go home, rest, and relax. Avoid heavy exercise and exertion for a few days.
Eat after your extraction. You can eat soft and liquid foods like yogurt and ice cream. Proper nutrition helps you heal more quickly.
Fill any prescription given to you by Dr. Blalock. If you don’t get a prescription for pain medication, you can take ibuprofen, naproxen, or another over-the-counter pain reliever to help with discomfort.
Keep your tooth extraction site clean using a prescription mouthwash or salt water rinse.
DON’T
Use a straw or spit forcefully for at least 48 hours. This can damage the blood clot in your extraction site, leading to a painful condition called “dry socket.”
Smoke or use tobacco products. Ideally, you should avoid smoking for at least a week to ensure proper healing and recovery. Now’s a great time to consider quitting permanently!
Eat crunchy, hard, or tough foods. These can damage your extraction site, causing pain and discomfort and leading to a longer healing and recovery process.
Brush your extraction site directly for at least 3-4 days. Brush the nearby teeth, but avoid the extraction site. This helps prevent damage and ensures you heal more quickly.