San Marcos Dental Center works hard to provide patients with excellent, comprehensive dental and surgical care. Many patients are referred to our office because their family dentist has told them they need a particular procedure like a tooth extraction. In dental care, tooth extractions are a last resort. Dentists will do everything in their power to save a tooth before resorting to tooth extraction, but sometimes it is necessary to keep other teeth and gums healthy. Prior to any tooth extraction, San Marcos Dental Center will discuss the procedure, the post-op care, and the six most common side effects.
1. Bleeding
After a dental extraction bleeding will occur, but it’s important to form a blood clot to stop the bleeding. Prior to leaving the appointment, we will ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes. If the bleeding continues after this, you should insert another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. This process may have to be repeated several times to form a blood clot.
2. Swelling
Extracting a tooth normally causes a minor amount of swelling in the mouth and cheek. Typically, the swelling occurs the day after the extraction occurred. You can minimize the swelling with ice packs.
3. Moderate Pain
It is normal to feel a mild or moderate amount of pain after tooth extraction. You can take over-the-counter pain medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Please follow the directions on the container closely and do not exceed the daily amount. If the pain persists or becomes worse, please call our staff.
4. Soreness
A dental extraction can cause minor pain and a tender mouth, that’s why it’s beneficial to eat a soft diet after the procedure. Our office highly recommends consuming foods like soup, smoothies, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft vegetables, yogurt, and pasta.
5. Rinse
After the procedure, it is important to keep your mouth clean to avoid any type of infection. On the day of the procedure, you can gently brush your teeth.The day after the procedure, you should rinse your mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of salt or a prescribed antiseptic mouthwash 5-6 times per day. This will help your mouth heal and avoid any unnecessary infection.