10 Tips for a Faster Tooth Extraction Recovery

The complexity of your tooth extraction directly relates to the length of your recovery as well as

the kind of aftercare experience you’ll have. But there are a few ways to encourage a shorter

recovery and a more comfortable one, too. So, grab your ice pack and settle in. Here’s a list of

tooth extraction recovery tips from our experienced dental team at Cortez Family Dentistry:

Avoid damage to the extraction site. This may sound pretty simple but there are

numerous habits in your daily routine that you may need to break in order to do so.

Beyond avoiding contact sports, you should also avoid rinsing, spitting or using a straw.

These habits can dislodge the protective blood clot within your extraction site and lead to

pain, bleeding and a lengthier recovery.

Skip the gym for at least two days. As we mentioned above, contact sports can lead

to unnecessary damage to your extraction site but so can running, riding a bike or other

activities that may elevate your heart rate. Strenuous activity can lead to an increase in

postoperative bleeding and discomfort.

Take medication as directed by your dentist. We may advise the use of pain relievers

and could prescribe antibiotics. It’s essential that you follow the instructions provided by

our dental team to ensure proper healing, that you avoid infection and that your comfort

is a top priority.

Manage swelling with ice. Don’t have a bag of frozen peas? An ice pack will do just as

well. During the first 48 hours, you may experience swelling around your tooth extraction

site. We encourage the use of ice packs on your cheek near your extraction site for 10

minutes at a time to reduce swelling.

Avoid smoking and alcohol. Similar to a straw, smoking creates suction that can

dislodge the healthy blood clot in your extraction site. Smoking and alcohol can also

delay healing so avoidance is highly encouraged if you’d like to recover as quickly as

possible.

Get lots of rest. Ample rest is healing in a number of ways. It gives your body the time it

needs to heal and to allocate resources to your tooth extraction site. If there was ever a

time for a nap, this is it!

Eat soft, nutritious foods. For the first few days, we recommend avoiding hard,

crunchy, spicy or acidic foods. Eggs, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, cool soups,

smoothies, and pudding are all good options. We also recommend foods rich in healing

nutrients to give your body the tools it needs to rebuild. Avocado, bananas, steamed

broccoli, carrots and salmon are just a few of our favorites.

Stay hydrated. Consuming plenty of liquids improves healing by helping distribute

healthy nutrients throughout your body. Water is recommended, as it also helps clear

your mouth of harmful bacteria, however, other liquids are encouraged as well.

Maintain oral hygiene. Keep your tooth extraction site clean to avoid infection. You

should continue to brush and floss but make sure to avoid the extraction site. In the first

few days, it’s also important to avoid mouthwash and spitting, as this can create suction.

Don’t miss your follow-up appointments. During these follow-ups, we’ll examine your

tooth extraction site, assess your healing and provide additional guidance, if needed.

We’re also able to identify infection during this time so it’s important not to miss a visit as

we can spot and stop infection faster.

One Last Tip

The most important piece of advice we can give you is to follow the instructions we provide after

your appointment. We’ll send you home with even more tips and tricks to avoid pain and help

shorten your healing time after a tooth extraction. Contact our dentist in Cortez, Co to learn

more about tooth extractions, our minimally invasive approach and how we can help ensure

your healthy recovery!