Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.
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Do you need to have a tooth extracted, but are worried about what is going to happen after you go home from the dentist? Here are some questions you'll have about what you should do.
How Do You Stop The Bleeding From The Extraction Site?
It is common for the extraction site to bleed after you leave the dentist's office, but it should be minimal. You'll be given gauze by the dentist to bite down on in order to help form a blood clot. Make sure to replace the gauze with clean gauze if it becomes too saturated, and to keep applying pressure until the bleeding stops. You can help speed up the process by placing a tea bag over the extraction site when applying pressure. There is tannic acid found in the tea that will help the blood clot form.
How Do You Deal With Pain?
Your dentist will recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever in order to deal with pain. It is possible that they will want to prescribe you a prescription pain reliever, but it is typically not necessary for most teeth extractions.
How Do You Deal With Swelling?
The important thing to know about swelling is that you want to use ice instead of heat. Using heat is going to bring blood flow to that area and make the swelling worse. Use ice packs on the area for about 10 minutes, then take them off for another 10 minutes. Keep cycling back and forth with using ice until the swelling goes down.
How Do You Deal With Bruising?
It is normal to experience bruising on your face after having a tooth extracted. It will go away over time, and the best way to deal with it is to get plenty of rest within that first day. You should also elevate your head when lying down, so make sure to prop plenty of pillows behind your head.
How Do You Clean The Extraction Site?
You will actually want to brush your teeth without toothpaste for the first 24 hours after the procedure. You don't want to run the risk of spitting out toothpaste and causing the blood clot to become dislodged. It is important to brush gently and keep the toothbrush away from the extraction site until it heals. You can gently rinse out your mouth using saltwater, just as long as you let the water drip out of your mouth instead of spitting it out.
For more information regarding dental extractions, reach out to a local dentist.
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