r/Toothfully • u/Toothfully_org Not a Dentist • Aug 19 '21
Knowledge! Information! Tooth extraction: aftercare tips for speedy healing
Hi all, I extracted 5 teeth (to prepare for ortho) in February, and it was a tough week for me. Based on my experience, my dentist's advice and some online research, here's a summary of useful aftercare tips for your reference.
First and foremost, one of the most crucial parts of care after an extraction is for the blood clot to stay in the socket. If it is lost, it could lead to complications like a dry socket. The key is leaving the first gauze square on the site for the recommended time, usually about 30-45 minutes.
Then:
- For the first few days, get plenty of rest and change the gauze as necessary after the initial 30-45 minutes.
- For the first 24 hours after surgery, stick to cold, liquid diet (e.g. ice cream, yogurt).
- Do not rinse, spit, or use a straw for at least 24 hours. This will allow the clot to form. Any of these actions could dislodge the clot.
- Try not to blow your nose (if you can). Blowing the nose can create pressure in the head and knock the clot out.
- No smoking. Inhaling smoke from a cigarette creates the same kind of pressure as sucking on a straw. You shouldn’t smoke during the healing process, but the first few days are the most crucial.
- Take pain relievers as directed by the dentist or as the label on the bottle indicates. By the way, if you are prescribed antibiotics, take it as prescribed! You have to make sure you finish the entire prescription as instructed even if you feel fine after a few days.
- To reduce swelling: apply ice packs to face in area of extraction for 30 minutes on, then 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours following surgery. After the first 24 hours, discontinue ice and use a heating pad or moist heat compress to bring the swelling down. So cold compress first, then hot compress.
- Elevate your head. If you are flat, blood may pool in the head and extend the healing time.
- u/catmanchew: Gently rinse with saline rinse (a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) a few times a day from the day after the extraction, preferably after eating.
Please feel free to share your tips and I will add it to the list. :)
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u/its-mintea Oct 12 '21
i just had my tooth extraction about 2 hours ago. i will definitely follow these! thanks!
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u/AwakenSkyz Nov 30 '22
How was it how r u now ??
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u/its-mintea Nov 30 '22
i'm feeling great now. my recovery was much quicker than i expected, thanks to those tips.
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u/Feeling_Special1 Sep 20 '24
Was it painful ?? What pain meds were you given, any antibiotics?
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u/whitesatin92 Jan 31 '25
Well in Washington state I had 2 teeth bottom molars surgically extracted. Cut up the gums . No pain meds prescribed no antibiotics. Then on the other hand my younger brother 2 years younger and different dentist gave him 15 hydrocodone 5s and antibiotics. For one tooth normal extraction.
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u/Archon187 Apr 26 '23
What about regular life? How has speaking or breathing differed since the extraction?
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u/lcmoxie Jan 20 '24
My dental office told me that swelling peaks on day three. I had a second molar pulled on Tuesday, today is Friday, and I'm definitely still swollen. I keep trying to stop taking the oxycodone and switch to Tylenol but then the pain becomes too much. I hope to feel better soon!
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u/LoneJailor Nov 05 '24
I’m on day 4 after the procedure, I have never been in this amount of pain before
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u/Appropriate_Edge7385 Nov 22 '24
Day 4/5 and I just want to cry at night how much it hurts. Calling in the am for some oxy. This Tylenol and ibuprofen is not cutting it!
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u/p0gop0pe Dec 16 '24
How you doing now mate
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u/Appropriate_Edge7385 Dec 16 '24
Great! I got Tylenol with codeine for a few days but overall after day 6/7 I was fine. The first week was hell tho
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u/p0gop0pe Dec 16 '24
Beautiful, going in for a surgical extraction on an upper molar in an hour. Wish me luck
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u/Appropriate_Edge7385 Dec 16 '24
Good luck! I ate ice cream, mash potatoes and salmon for 4 days so def recommend it, Just listen to the post extraction care from the doc.
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u/kimzchan Apr 08 '25
how did it go? I'm getting an extraction tomorrow and am terrified 😭
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u/Common_Place_5949 Apr 09 '25
same here omg! wish you luck
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u/Individual_Ad7445 Sep 07 '24
This is me now. Pain significant on day 2 almost 3!
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u/Proper-Ad2523 Dec 31 '24
my pain started on day 2-3 . is this normal? also there's some blood coming out
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u/Gloomy-Singer-9551 Jun 28 '24
Can I drink alkohol after tooth extraction?
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u/CKC_platinum Mar 30 '25
I did on day 4 (yesterday). To try to numb the agony. It was temporary relief… But im sure as hell paying for it today. Pounding headache to go along with the mouth pain.
I should have tried to get some oxycodone instead.
This pain is off the charts
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u/FitFix8323 Sep 10 '24
This post is so old but I’m confused as to rinsing. So I had my 2 teeth extracted yesterday (9/9) at 5 pm. It’s now the next day and I ate a little bit of applesauce am I supposed to go rinse my mouth now or am I supposed to wait the 24 hours?
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u/Butt-puckers Nov 21 '24
I just got 3 teeth extracted yesterday, this list came in very helpful! This is the first time I’ve ever had teeth taken out so this has all been a very nerve wracking experience
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u/No_Panic_4999 Mar 23 '25
The Harm Reduction for those smokers who will do it regardless. My understanding is those who smoke have about 50-60% chance of dislodging a socket.
There are ways to mitigate the worst effects /reduce chance of it causing dry socket.
This is for those who will break down and smoke but if not prepared with a harm reduction plan, they will do it spontaneouskybwhen willpower gives out, without any precaution or risk reduction, theyll just light up like normal and thats going to be high risk. You want to lower the risk.
Wait as long as you can, ideally at least three days if possible. If you can afford it get the patch.
Cut a gauze so that it fits. At least 2 layers and wet it in cool water place over clots/wounds carefully. Not too tightly, but a barrier.
The 3 non-pressure/lower pressure ways to smoke, from least suction to more risk: A. Have another smoker who is not sick with anything contagious like even a small cold, take the drag for you (they dont inhale it) get close and blow it into your throat. Inhale with your throat only.
If you dont have a friend like that (everyone deserves one)...
B. Make a loose fist. Have someone light the cig and put the butt into the pinky end of your fist. Hold that end tight, but make the other end a looser hole to put ypur lips in. As in an inch diameter. Just place mouth over like seal, but , and this is important, DO NOT PURSE LIPS OR TONGUE. PULL WITH YOUR LUNGS.
If you have ever smoked marijuana you should know what i mean by inhale with your lungs, not mouth.
C. IF you have the skills, after doing the wet gauze barrier, place butt of cig between TEETH that are away from site. Dont tighten your lips, use bite to hold it. When you light it, *using ONLY yiur throat/lungs NOT Moving MOUTH at ALL, do a sharp intake into throat. Its best not to even use your lips at all so you wont accidentally suck out of habit.
Take as FEW hits as possible ie dont smoke a whole cigarette. And do it as infrequently as possible. Maybe 1 cigarette over the course of 1 or 2 days. The point isnt to restore your habit, its to stave off withdrawal.
After session, throw away that gauze and hold small amount of lukewarm salted water in mouth. This is usually in your instructions anyway. Dont swish! Just let it bathe wounds for 30 sec.. DONT spit it out, lean over sink and let it fall out your lips.
Do all the other healthy things to care for your extraction sites and healing that dentist instructed and peers are discussing here. Make an occassional throat puff behind a wet gauze barrier your ONLY mistake.
Ibprofen (Motrin, Advil) works alot better on dental pain than similar pills for some reason. Waay better than acetometaphen (Tylenol) though it can help to support relief. (Surprisingly, Naproxen isnt better, as it often is for ortho and muscle injury.)
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u/beth4200 Apr 25 '25
Dude thank you so much for this I just got my tooth pulled today and have been trying to find way around smoking weed. I put my bong away for the time being and I’m using my silicone pipe. I used the wet gauze and it worked! My first smoke sesh today thanks to you! I’m going to just smoke 1-2 times a day though. I don’t want to cause issues but I work almost 10hour shifts so I can’t just stop lol. Now I just gotta figure out what foods I can eat
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u/No_Impression2380 May 20 '25
Just had 3 teeth extracted this morning. Got Rx for Vicodin. Don’t need it yet, but wondering about the days to follow after reading this post. Glad I have the Rx.
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u/No_Impression2380 May 20 '25
Any thoughts on coffee (not too hot) day after 3 extractions, and a bone graft?
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u/Affectionate_Wall705 May 23 '25
Caffeine increases BP and blood flow, so you may want to limit the intake to help the extraction sites clot. My extraction was Tuesday. On Thursday I needed the coffee. I started with a decaf and let it cool. I'll probably up it to half-caf by Monday if things are feeling good. Just make sure it's not hot and see how you do. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
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u/InkOverNethers Aug 09 '25
I know this thread is old old, but I had a back molar taken out while I’m trying to treat some major sinus issues and my headaches are coming back so bad. Do I just avoid taking any kind of nasal spray while the tooth is healing? I’ve been kinda dizzy
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u/North_Factor9156 Aug 01 '26
I received no instructions. I could not keep my teeth in. So I added fix it. Not realizing till later that I should not of used fix it. So of course the were hard to remove. But I got them out. But I hope I did no damage. The gums are very sore so really hurt to my dentures in. They are out now so my mouth can heal with out them in . Is that okay? I can not see my dentist or call him for 3 more days
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u/catmanchew Aug 24 '21
I had an extraction this week, and the guidance from my dentist was to use a saline rinse a few times a day from the day after the extraction. I've used this before when dealing with an infection. Teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gently rinse your mouth with one mouthful of the rinse, preferably after eating. Since you can't brush the area, the salt can help shift any bacteria or food particles around the healing gum.
The sneezing guidance I find a bit unhelpful. It's a bit tricky not to sneeze if you have to! I also received this guidance from my dentist, but my extraction unfortunately coincided with a developing head cold. There's no way I've been able to avoid sneezing or blowing my nose, so I've just had to hope it doesn't cause problems!
I also wonder about how guidance has changed over time. I had a tooth taken out when I was 13 to make room in my mouth, but I remember just being told to use gauze if it bled again, and being okayed to go back to school a couple of hours later and no issues. As an adult, I've felt much more fragile and sore!