Have you recently had a tooth taken out?

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Hopefully the experience was pain free and as pleasant as it can be

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Unfortunately even after removal of the tooth your gums and jaw bone around the area take a while to heal 

Follow our guide to ensure you give your mouth the best chance to heal 

 

 

What you can expect after extraction?
Swelling of the area - this is normal due to the bodys response to allow the area to heal 

Bruising of the area - again due to the nature of having a tooth taken out it is normal to expect brusing in the area

Bleeding of the site - small amounts of blood leaking from the site are normal for up to 3 weeks after an extraction - however if bleeding is profuse you will need to apply pressure onto the socket with  the gauze given to you by the dental practice - you can do this by placing the gauze over the socket and biting firmly for 15 minutes this should stop the bleeding

 

How long do these symptoms last?

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In most cases these pain symptoms last from a few days after the extraction up to 2/3 weeks

Depending on each individuals medical situation it may be longer or shorter than this 

 

 

What can you do to ensure good healing after a tooth extraction?

 

For the first 24 hours after a tooth extraction you should not spit out anything from your mouth or rinse your mouth with anything 

Why? Before you leave our surgery we ensure a blood clot has filled the hole where your tooth was if you spit or rinse within 24 hours this blood clot can be removed leading to exposed bone which can be very painful and tender and more prone to infections

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After the first 24 hours you should begin rinsing your mouth with luke warm water with a table spoon of salt every few hours especially after eating 

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Meals - try to avoid eating sharp food on the side of the extraction for the first few hours - after the first 24 hours rinse with salt water after meals to keep the area clean of food debris 

It is important to eat to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to recover and heal

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​You can brush the teeth either side and around the area as normal 

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Normal over the counter painkillers can be taken to ease the pain from the bruising and swelling which is part of the healing process

 

If you smoke or vape this is high risk for poor healing and you are advised to really try and avoid smoking for the duration of healing especially the first 48 hours otherwise you are at risk of dry socket which can be more painful than your initial toothache and prolong the healing process 

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Once healing has taken place it can take a while to get used to the gap being present in your mouth, depending on which tooth it is you may get used to this or missing teeth can be replaced with either dental implants , bridges or dentures. To find out more you can discuss with your dentist ​

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If you have had a tooth out with us you can contact us for more advice or if you have any questions