When you’re told that you need a tooth extraction, you likely have a lot of questions. Some of the most common questions that our doctors at our Galesburg office get are about what patients can expect during their recovery following a tooth extraction surgery. Well, we’re here to help! Here is a list of tips on how you can recover from tooth extraction surgery.
- Fill your prescription pain medication immediately, and start taking it as soon as the next dose is due. You always want to take prescription pain medication exactly as it is prescribed so that you can stay “on top” of your pain and relieve any discomfort you may feel. This means you may need to wake up in the middle of the night to take a dose. Trust us; it’ll be worth it.
- Don’t smoke. When you have Galesburg tooth extractions performed, there will be a hole in your mouth that exposes your jawbone at your surgical sites. Your body’s natural response is to form a blood clot to cover this hole. However, the sucking motion of smoking a cigarette can dislodge this blood clot, which won’t reform on its own, and can cause a painful complication called dry sockets. In addition to the increased risk of developing dry sockets, smoking constricts your blood flow, which can make it more difficult for your gums to heal.
- Don’t use a straw. The sucking motion of drinking through a straw may also dislodge the blood clot that has formed over your exposed jaw bone, causing dry sockets. Instead, you’ll want to spoon feed yourself liquids, smoothies, and milkshakes while you are recovering from your oral surgery.
- Eat soft foods. Hard and crunchy foods will be too difficult for you to chew and eat in the first few days immediately following your tooth extraction surgery. Instead, consume soft foods and liquids such as smoothies, milkshakes, juices, applesauce, yogurt, and
- Don’t brush too vigorously after your surgery. In fact, for the first day or so after your oral surgery, you’ll only need to gently rinse your mouth with salt water. Once our Galesburg doctors have cleared you to brush your teeth, you’ll want to gently brush everywhere except your surgical site, so that you don’t inadvertently cause damage.
- Call us if you have excessive pain or develop a fever. These can be signs of infection, which we’ll want to treat immediately. If you think that something is “off” during your oral surgery recovery, we want to know as soon as possible.
Nothing Substitutes the Advice of Our Doctors
When it comes to getting tips, and helpful suggestions for a smooth recovery, nothing can replace following the detailed instructions our doctors will give you when you are discharged from our office. Make sure that you review these instructions carefully before you leave our Galesburg office. If you have any questions or concerns while you are recovering, no matter how trivial you may think they are, be sure to contact us right away.
Call us today at (309) 232-8252 if you would like to schedule a consultation or need to speak with us about your tooth extraction recovery.
