Tooth Extraction Aftercare

If you have to have a tooth extracted, whether it’s one of your main teeth or you’re having your wisdom teeth removed, you may be worried about caring for the area afterward. There are a number of things you can do to help prevent infection and ensure you heal fast.

Keep the Area Clean

The number one thing you can do to help healing go quickly is to keep the area very clean. Brushing gently and rinsing regularly are key to keeping food particles and bacteria away from the surgery site. If you don’t keep the area clean and free from bacteria, you run the risk of getting an infection, which will only cause you more pain and require another procedure.

Pain Management

Tooth extraction is a type of oral surgery, and there will likely be an incision site that, once the numbness wears off, causes you pain. Proactive pain management is important to ensure that you’re not suffering needlessly. If we prescribe you pain medication, make sure you take it as prescribed to stay ahead of any pain. If you’re sticking with aspirin or acetaminophen, take that regularly. Whatever your pain management technique, it’s important to be proactive because it’s easier to keep pain at bay than it is to stop pain once it starts.

Stay in Touch

Let us know how you’re doing! If you’re in a lot of pain or are noticing bleeding from the incision site, call us right away. We may bring you back in or we may give you some tips for fighting the problem. It’s important to keep us informed because we can’t help you if we don’t know what’s going on.

We always send you home with aftercare instructions when we extract a tooth. Follow those instructions carefully, but again, don’t be afraid to reach out if you have questions or concerns.