Introduction: What are some effective ways to heal quickly after a tooth extraction?
Your dentist can recommend tooth extractions for various reasons. You might be dealing with oral health problems, or it’s an injury in an accident that deteriorates your teeth health. If that’s the case for you and you need a tooth extraction in Houston, contact Smile Unique Dental. Our dentist will evaluate your condition and recommend the best treatment plan. Dentists can also recommend tooth removal procedures in cases of severe misalignment or overcrowding of the teeth. After that, they will come up with numerous effective tips that will speed up your recovery following the procedure.
If you’re wondering how to boost your healing, this guide will tell you six useful ways to help you return to your everyday routine in less time. But before that, let’s discuss who the right candidate for the treatment is, how long tooth extractions usually take to heal, and the critical considerations you should know.
Why do you need a tooth extraction procedure?
You may need tooth extractions if you have the following conditions:
- A large cavity that has damaged your tooth beyond restoration
- A fractured tooth that’s unable to be fixed
- An infected or impacted wisdom tooth.
- A lingering baby tooth.
- You require space in your mouth for other necessary dental work.
How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?
Each individual is unique, and so is their recovery time. How long you would take to recover from a tooth extraction depends on the following factors:
- The location and size of the extraction
- Patient’s oral health
- The level of practice for post-surgery aftercare
You can recover relatively quickly from simple tooth extractions. But it would be best if you rest at least 2-3 days after the procedure, as it’s the time when a blood clot will develop in the surgical area to speed up the healing process. Once 2-3 days have passed, and you don’t experience improper healing signs, you can return to your everyday routine. However, keep in mind that your soft tissues will typically take around 3-4 weeks to recover fully.
Compared to simple extractions, surgical tooth removal might take a little longer to heal entirely. You will require to take complete rest for the first three days. After this period, you should still avoid vigorous physical activities for 1-2 weeks before returning to your routine.
How many days should I take off from work?
The answer primarily depends on the nature of your job. Some jobs require more physical activity, while others need only a laptop and a chair to work. The best way to find out is to discuss your concern with the dentist at Smile Unique Dental or any other dentist beforehand. This way, you can coordinate better with your employer.
Effective Ways to Heal Quickly After a Tooth Extraction
Now that you understand the basics of tooth extraction, it’s time to learn about some of the effective ways to recover quickly following your procedure.
1. Rest
While this tip may sound obvious, resting after a tooth extraction is too crucial to leave it out of the list. You should avoid doing tedious work and any activity that requires you to lift heavy objects, bend over, or sweat. Such actions can increase your blood pressure, leading to bleeding near the affected area. This will significantly reduce your healing pace and might result in severe consequences.
But by any chance, if you still experience swelling or bleeding, try resting your head elevated on a pillow. This will allow blood to flow away from the surgical area, improving healing and reducing inflammation.
2. Follow a soft diet
For the time being, you should focus more on consuming a soft diet that has essential nutrients than an only nutrient-rich diet. That’s because hard, chewy, or crunchy foods can dislodge the blood clot formed to promote healing. Eating such items can also cause irritation as they can easily get stuck to the empty tooth socket.
Eating a soft food diet that has essential nutrients will give your body the energy it needs without damaging the surgical site or the soft tissues around it. Ask your dentist about a customized diet plan after the procedure. They might recommend you to eat non-crunchy fruits, yogurt, oatmeal, mashed avocado, scrambled eggs, soft fish, and lukewarm soup for the first few days. You can later slide in semi-soft foods once you’re on the road to recovery without complications.
3. Cold Therapy
A little inflammation is natural to any surgery. Post-surgical swelling typically lasts for about a week after tooth extraction. However, excessive swelling can reduce the healing rate, which results in prolonged recovery time.
To manage this issue, you should apply a cold pack near the affected side of your face in intervals. Use a cold compress for 15 minutes and pause it for another 15 minutes. Cold therapy offers two benefits: reducing swelling and numbing the area. So, try to follow this tip for the first two days after your surgery to minimize discomfort and promote healing.
4. Use OTC pain relievers
Once the anesthesia administered by your local dentist wears off, you may experience some pain near the affected area. This discomfort will likely take some days to pass. But you can easily manage painful symptoms by taking over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications. Keep in mind to take the dosage as recommended by your dentist or manufacturer. Moreover, persistent pain can be a sign of an underlying issue. So keep in touch with your dentist if you experience ongoing pain sensation after the surgery.
5. Avoid smoking or drinking through a straw
Smoking tobacco or sipping your drink through a straw creates negative pressure around the affected area. This can dislodge the blood clot in the empty socket, resulting in an open wound or dry socket. These complications can even lead to severe infections, nerve damage, and jaw bone deterioration. So, it’s important to avoid using a straw or smoking cigarettes for a smooth recovery.
6. Maintain optimum oral hygiene
Now, this point is most important. It would be best to stay on top of your oral hygiene game. Although you cannot brush or floss near the extraction site for a couple of days, you can still remove debris by performing saltwater rinses. And don’t forget to clean other areas of your mouth, including your tongue, gently. Please make sure not to use alcohol-based products as they can increase irritation and cause problems in recovery.
Important Considerations Following a Tooth Extraction
Now you know the top most effective tips to promote healing. But here are a few things that you should consider. You should drink plenty of water once a blood clot is formed in the surgical area, as it will speed up the healing process. On the other hand, make sure to avoid consuming alcohol and tobacco for at least four days after your tooth extraction. These substances create problems in the surgical area, leading to post-surgery complications. If you’re planning to quit smoking or alcohol addiction, now is the best time to do it. If you check out this dentist in decatur, that’s one of the aftercare advice you will get from them.
Final Thoughts
Knowing almost everything about tooth extractions, including recovery time, ways to speed up the healing process, and all the dos and don’ts following the procedure might be helpful. If you have more questions or need to remove your tooth due to some oral health concerns, please get in touch with Smile Unique Dental. Here’s the link to our website where you can see our satisfied clients, the services we offer, and contact information: https://www.smileuniquedentistry.com/
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