A dental extraction generates an open wound in the gums. If you don't take care of them properly, serious and painful complications can develop. By taking the right precautions, before and after the surgical procedure, you will facilitate the healing process.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treating the Gums after Extraction
Step 1. Bite into the gauze with some force
After the extraction the dentist will put gauze on the wound site to stop the bleeding. Remember to bite it by applying some pressure to the area, so as to stop the blood from escaping. If heavy bleeding persists, you must move the gauze to cover the wound directly.
- Don't talk, otherwise you release the pressure from the extraction site and the bleeding will continue.
- If the gauze gets too wet, you can change it for another. However, do not replace it more than necessary and do not spit out the saliva, as this may prevent the clot from forming.
- Don't tease the gum with your tongue or fingers, and avoid blowing your nose and sneezing at this stage. If you increase the pressure in your mouth, you could trigger a new bleeding.
- After 30-45 minutes you can remove the gauze.
Step 2. Take pain relievers
Use only the medications your dentist has prescribed for you. If your surgeon hasn't given you a prescription for specific pain relievers, then you can take an over-the-counter medicine. Take all antibiotics recommended by your doctor.
Take the first dose of pain reliever as soon as the effect of the anesthesia wears off. It is best to complete the course of pain relievers and antibiotics exactly as prescribed
Step 3. Apply an ice pack
Place an ice pack on the cheek in the extraction area. The cold reduces bleeding and keeps swelling in check by constricting blood vessels. Hold the compress for 30 minutes and take an equally long break. Continue with this alternation for the first 24-48 hours. After two days, the swelling should have subsided and the ice will no longer be of any benefit.
- If you don't have a special pack, you can seal crushed ice or cubes in a plastic bag.
- Avoid holding your hand in the extraction area; generates heat.
Step 4. Use the tea bags
This plant contains tannic acid which promotes clot formation by reducing the caliber of blood vessels. Applying the tea bag helps reduce bleeding. If you notice a little bleeding after an hour of extraction, apply a moistened tea bag to the wound and bite it lightly to maintain some pressure. You can also drink iced tea, but the sachet is more effective.
Step 5. Gargle with warm salt water
Wait until the morning after the extraction to rinse your mouth. You can make a hot saline solution by mixing one teaspoon of salt in a 240ml glass of water. Gargle slowly and gently and then spit out the solution without too much violence so as not to detach the clot from the wound.
Repeat this rinse four to five times a day, for several days after the surgery, especially at the end of meals and before bed
Step 6. Get plenty of rest
A good rest ensures constant blood pressure which, in turn, promotes clot formation and healing of the gums. Do not engage in any physical activity during the 24 hours following the surgery; when you lie down, keep your head slightly raised, so you don't run the risk of choking on blood and / or saliva.
- Try sleeping with your head resting on multiple pillows in order to keep it elevated and avoid sleeping turned on the side of the extraction to prevent blood from stagnating.
- Don't lean forward and don't lift heavy loads.
- Always sit upright.
Step 7. Brush your teeth
After 24 hours, you can brush your teeth and tongue gently but do not use the toothbrush near the wound. In this area, limit yourself to rinsing with salt water as described above, so as not to damage the clot. Follow this procedure for the next three to four days.
You can always use floss and mouthwash, but avoid the surgery area. Use an antibacterial mouthwash or rinse according to your dentist's instructions to kill bacteria and prevent infections
Step 8. Use a chlorhexidine based gel
This needs to be smeared on the wound to speed up healing. It is also effective in reducing pain and discomfort.
Do not apply the gel directly to the extraction area. Simply apply it around the wound area
Step 9. Apply a warm compress 24 to 48 hours after surgery
This increases blood flow to the extraction site, promoting scarring and thus reducing swelling and pain. After 36 hours, apply a warm, damp washcloth to the cheek near the extraction site for 20 minutes at a time, alternating with a rest phase of another 20 minutes.
Step 10. Take care of your nutrition
You must wait until the anesthesia has completely subsided before attempting to eat. Start with soft foods and chew on the opposite side to the extraction side. You can eat something soft and cold, like ice cream, to relieve the pain and at the same time nourish yourself a little. Avoid any hard, crunchy, crumbly or hot food and do not drink through a straw, as sucking could detach the clot from the gums.
- Eat regularly and don't skip meals;
- Eat food that is cold or at room temperature; never hot or boiling;
- Eat soft, cold foods like ice cream, smoothie, pudding, yogurt, and soup at room temperature. These foods are particularly suitable in the hours following the extraction, because they relieve the pain caused by the surgery. Make sure what you eat isn't too cold or hard, and don't chew on the wound. Hard foods (such as grains, nuts, popcorn, and so on) can be difficult to consume, cause pain, and could damage the injury. Gradually change your diet from liquid to semi-solid as the days go by.
- Don't use straws. Drinking like this generates some negative pressure inside the mouth, which could cause the bleeding to resume. Sip liquids from a glass and use a spoon to avoid complications.
- Avoid spicy and sticky foods, hot drinks, products with caffeine, alcohol and carbonated drinks.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol for at least 24 hours after extraction.
Part 2 of 3: Understanding the Post-Extractive Healing Process
Step 1. Prepare for swelling
Your gums and mouth will swell as a reaction to the surgery and you will likely experience some pain. This is a completely normal process and usually begins to subside within two to three days. In the meantime, apply the ice pack to the corresponding cheek to control both pain, inflammation and swelling.
Step 2. Expect some bleeding
After a tooth is extracted, the small blood vessels between the gums and the bone will lose a lot of blood. However, the bleeding will never be excessive or copious. If so, it means that the dressing that is placed after surgery is not exactly between the teeth and the wound. In this case, contact your dentist to reposition it.
Step 3. Don't tease the clot
A clot will form in the first day or two and it is critically important not to remove or touch it. This is the essential first step in the healing process, and if you remove it and disturb it, it will slow down healing, as well as expose you to potential infections and unnecessary pain.
Step 4. A layer of epithelial cells will then form
Over the next ten days, the gum tissue cells will proliferate to form a bridging layer of epithelium over the hole left by the extracted tooth. Again it is vital not to touch or remove it, because it is important for healing.
Step 5. Expect bone regeneration
Once the epithelial layer is formed, the bone-forming cells that are present in the bone marrow are activated. The filling process usually begins at the level of the walls of the hole left by the extracted tooth and continues towards the center. In this way the space left free by the tooth is sealed; when the bone is completely regenerated, the healing of the gums can also be said to be complete.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Gums Before Extraction
Step 1. Inform your dental surgeon of any medical conditions you have
Also, you should tell him about any medications you are taking, as they may interfere or complicate the surgical procedure and cause later problems.
- Diabetic patients typically have longer recovery times after each dental treatment. Try to keep your blood sugar close to normal to ensure quick recovery after extraction, and let your dentist know about your diabetic condition and your blood glucose content. Your doctor will decide if your current blood glucose is adequate for a safe extraction.
- Hypertensive patients should be aware that some of the medications they take can cause gum bleeding. This can also be a complication if drug therapy is not stopped before the extraction. Always tell your surgeon about any medications you are taking or have recently taken.
- People on anticoagulant therapy or with blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin should always inform their dentist before undergoing the extraction, as this class of drugs prevents clot formation.
- Women taking oral contraceptives that contain estrogen may have clotting problems. If this is the case for you, tell your doctor.
- Some long-term drug therapies cause dry mouth which, in turn, could lead to an infection at the extraction site. Again, it is vital to inform the surgeon prior to the procedure; In addition, you should also check with the doctor who prescribed your medications before proceeding with any substitution therapy or a change in dosages.
Step 2. Remember that smoking is a source of trouble
In fact it is recognized as a trigger for various pathologies affecting the gums. Furthermore, the physical gesture of inhaling the smoke could move the clot, which instead is essential to trigger the healing process of the gum. Tobacco irritates the very sensitive wound and complicates healing.
- If you are a smoker, consider quitting before undergoing the extraction.
- If you have no intention of giving up on your habit, remember that you shouldn't smoke for at least 48 hours after surgery. Patients who chew tobacco should abstain for at least one week.
Step 3. Consult your family doctor
Tell your doctor that you will need to undergo an extraction, to avoid potential problems resulting from the medications you are taking or from any systemic conditions you suffer from.
Warnings
- If the pain gets worse after two days, go to the dentist immediately, as post-extraction alveolitis may have developed.
- If you feel strange pain a week after the extraction, go to the dentist's office.
- During the first 12 to 24 hours it is normal to have a slight bleeding and the saliva to be a little dark. If severe bleeding doesn't stop three to four hours after surgery, see your dentist right away.
- If you feel any sharp bits of bone (called bone sequesters) at the surgery site, let your dentist know. Gradual bone regeneration is normal, but splinters of dead bone left after surgery can cause pain and must be removed. Contact your dentist or dental surgeon if you are concerned that there may be bone residues creating pain at the site of the extraction.
