So, you are going to the dentist for a tooth extraction. You may have a chipped tooth, a cavity, or your wisdom tooth may be hurting. The most common reason for extracting teeth is pain from wisdom teeth. Many people don’t have enough space in their jaws to accommodate their wisdom teeth. Therefore, dentists suggest extracting them as soon as they start growing. Studies suggest that approximately 5 million people visit a dentist for tooth extraction. This is an astounding number, proving it’s a fairly common practice. Normal healing after a tooth extraction is not painful, but you must take precautions. Because if you make one wrong move, then it will be painful.
Tooth Extraction Healing Stages
Immediately After
If you have undergone a tooth extraction, you probably didn’t feel anything. But a few hours later, as the sensation in your teeth comes back, you may feel some pain. As the effects of anesthesia wear off, your nerves will react to the emptiness in your jaw. Some bleeding is obvious as the tooth is always forcefully removed. The dentist will give you some gauzes to stop the bleeding and some pain relief medication to use if the pain grows. Expect some swelling and difficulty speaking because of swelling.
First 1 or 2 Days
This is the time when you need to be careful the most. Your body does the majority of healing in these first two days. You will still find your jaw swollen, and some bleeding can occur when brushing your teeth. You can return to work the next day, but if you work out or have an active job like sports, take a day or two off. Also, if the patient is a child, take a day or two off from school as children can get hurt while playing. Swelling will peak at 24 hours post-surgery. You can use ice packs to ease the swelling.
3 Days After Extraction
The pulled tooth healing process is also at its end. The wound over the tooth socket would probably have been closed by now. There will be no more bleeding or swelling. You may experience some pain while chewing, so stick to soft foods like pasta for a few more days. Start brushing and flossing regularly as usual. Additionally, rinse your mouth with saline water. This further reduces the pain and swelling.
Conclusion
If you take the right precautions in the early tooth extraction healing stages, you will have nothing to worry about. Remember that sooner or later, a stage where you have to get a tooth extracted will come into your life, regardless of the reason. So, having good dental experts in your reach to perform the procedure will ensure a successful recovery and an improved experience. If you need our expert services to take care of our pearly whites, please contact Almond dental at our St. Anthony location at (612) 782-7000 or our Maple Grove location at (763) 762-7177.