After an 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 down on a gauze pad for thirty to forty-five minutes after an extraction.

If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another damp gauze pad and bite firmly for another thirty minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms it’s important to protect it, especially for the next twenty-four hours. So don’t smoke… suck through a straw… don’t rinse your mouth vigorously and don’t clean the teeth next to the extraction site.

These activities would dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first twenty-four hours.

This keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding and helps the healing process.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag (twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off) to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after forty-eight hours.

To control discomfort, take pain medications as recommended. Don’t take medications on an empty stomach or nausea may result. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft nutritious food on the day of the extraction. Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods.

You can begin eating normally the next day… or as soon as it’s comfortable.

Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water three times a day (put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, gently rinse-swish-spit).

Also, rinse gently after meals, it helps keep food out of the extraction site. It’s very important to resume your normal dental routine after twenty-four hours.

This should include brushing your teeth and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.

Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days you’ll be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.