Tooth Extraction

Thank you for trusting me with your care today. Extractions heal really well when you follow a few simple steps. Please read through this before the anesthesia wears off so you're ready.

After your procedure

1. 1

   Bite on gauze for 30–45 minutes

   Keep gentle, steady pressure on the gauze we placed. If bleeding continues, replace it with a fresh piece and bite down again for another 30 minutes. A little oozing for the first few hours is completely normal.

2. 2

   Leave the clot alone

   A blood clot will form in the socket — this is your body healing. Don't poke it with your tongue or finger, and avoid anything that could disturb it (see the next few steps).

3. 3

   No straws — ever let it drool out instead

   Do not drink through a straw for at least a week. The suction can pull the clot out and cause a very painful condition called dry socket. When rinsing, fill your mouth with water, close your lips, gently shake your head side to side — then just open your mouth and let it fall out. No cheek pressure, no spitting.

4. 4

   Ice for the first 24 hours, then warmth

   Put an ice pack on the outside of your face — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off — for the first 24 hours. After that, switch to a warm compress. This helps with swelling and soreness.

5. 5

   Soft diet for at least a week

   Stick to soft foods the whole first week: ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies (no straw!), mashed potatoes, yogurt, blended soup, scrambled eggs, and similar. Avoid anything crunchy, hard, chewy, or hot near the extraction site.

6. 6

   No hot foods or drinks

   Heat can dissolve the clot and increase bleeding. Keep foods and drinks cool or room temperature, especially in the first 48 hours.

7. 7

   No smoking for 7 days

   Smoking is one of the top causes of dry socket. Please avoid it for at least 7 days after the extraction — your healing depends on it.

8. 8

   Rinse gently starting 48 hours after the procedure

   Starting 48 hours after your extraction, rinse several times a day with warm salt water (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of water). Use the gentle head-shake method described above — no forceful swishing or spitting.

9. 9

   Take your medications as directed

   If I prescribed antibiotics, finish the full course. For discomfort, pain pills work well when taken on a schedule rather than waiting until it hurts.