10 Tips for a Faster Tooth Extraction Recovery

The complexity of your tooth extraction directly relates to the length of your recovery as well as the kind of aftercare experience you’ll have. But there are a few ways to encourage a shorter recovery and a more comfortable one, too. So, grab your ice pack and settle in. Here’s a list of tooth extraction recovery tips from our experienced dental team at Cortez Family Dentistry:

Avoid damage to the extraction site. This may sound pretty simple but there are numerous habits in your daily routine that you may need to break in order to do so. Beyond avoiding contact sports, you should also avoid rinsing, spitting or using a straw. These habits can dislodge the protective blood clot within your extraction site and lead to pain, bleeding and a lengthier recovery.

Skip the gym for at least two days. As we mentioned above, contact sports can lead to unnecessary damage to your extraction site but so can running, riding a bike or other activities that may elevate your heart rate. Strenuous activity can lead to an increase in postoperative bleeding and discomfort.

Take medication as directed by your dentist. We may advise the use of pain relievers and could prescribe antibiotics. It’s essential that you follow the instructions provided by our dental team to ensure proper healing, that you avoid infection and that your comfort is a top priority.

Manage swelling with ice. Don’t have a bag of frozen peas? An ice pack will do just as well. During the first 48 hours, you may experience swelling around your tooth extraction site. We encourage the use of ice packs on your cheek near your extraction site for 10 minutes at a time to reduce swelling.

Avoid smoking and alcohol. Similar to a straw, smoking creates suction that can dislodge the healthy blood clot in your extraction site. Smoking and alcohol can also delay healing so avoidance is highly encouraged if you’d like to recover as quickly as possible.

Get lots of rest. Ample rest is healing in a number of ways. It gives your body the time it needs to heal and to allocate resources to your tooth extraction site. If there was ever a time for a nap, this is it!

Eat soft, nutritious foods. For the first few days, we recommend avoiding hard, crunchy, spicy or acidic foods. Eggs, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, cool soups, smoothies, and pudding are all good options. We also recommend foods rich in healing nutrients to give your body the tools it needs to rebuild. Avocado, bananas, steamed broccoli, carrots and salmon are just a few of our favorites.

Stay hydrated. Consuming plenty of liquids improves healing by helping distribute healthy nutrients throughout your body. Water is recommended, as it also helps clear your mouth of harmful bacteria, however, other liquids are encouraged as well.

Maintain oral hygiene. Keep your tooth extraction site clean to avoid infection. You should continue to brush and floss but make sure to avoid the extraction site. In the first few days, it’s also important to avoid mouthwash and spitting, as this can create suction.

Don’t miss your follow-up appointments. During these follow-ups, we’ll examine your tooth extraction site, assess your healing and provide additional guidance, if needed. We’re also able to identify infection during this time so it’s important not to miss a visit as we can spot and stop infection faster.

One Last Tip

The most important piece of advice we can give you is to follow the instructions we provide after your appointment. We’ll send you home with even more tips and tricks to avoid pain and help shorten your healing time after a tooth extraction. Contact our dentist in Cortez, Co to learn more about tooth extractions, our minimally invasive approach and how we can help ensure your healthy recovery!