Making Your Smile Gorgeous

A few years ago, I started thinking carefully about what I could do to improve my smile. I had lived with crooked, yellowed teeth for most of my adult life, and honestly, I just wanted to feel beautiful. I started thinking about working with a cosmetic dentist, and before I knew it, I was in an office getting a complimentary consultation. I learned about a variety of different procedures that could improve my look, and it was really fun. I wanted to create a blog all about making smiles more beautiful, which is why I made this website. Check out this blog for great information about dentistry.

How To Make Your Tooth Extraction Surgery And Aftercare As Easy As Possible

Dentist Blog

If you need to have a single tooth pulled or all your wisdom teeth removed, you'll undergo a tooth extraction surgical procedure that will be performed by a dental professional. Before your surgery, topical and injectable numbing medication will likely be used to keep you from experiencing pain during your surgery. Here are a few additional things that you can do to make your tooth extraction surgery and aftercare as easy and comfortable as possible.

Learn About the Procedure Beforehand

Prior to your procedure, you can learn about what to expect during and after your tooth extraction surgery to put your mind at greater ease. By learning more in advance, you'll also have more opportunities to ask questions and get answers that may help you cope better during surgery and the recovery period. If the dental professional plans to use a numbing medication that might cause allergic reactions or other complications, you can explore other medication alternatives that may help your surgery go smoother and help you avoid problems that could make your surgery more difficult and prolong your healing.

Follow Instructions to Manage Bleeding

After surgery, you should expect a fair amount of bleeding, and this bleeding can stop sooner if you follow proper instructions. You'll likely be instructed to bite down on a piece of gauze to apply continuous pressure to the surgical area to encourage clotting and gradually stop the bleeding. You shouldn't pick at or move the gauze too much so that you don't disrupt the blood clotting process. The oral surgeon may also recommend occasionally swapping the gauze for a teabag to try to promote further healing. 

Eat Soft Foods After Surgery

For at least the first few days after your tooth extraction surgery, you should avoid eating hard or crunchy foods that could irritate the surgical area and cause further pain and discomfort. The oral surgeon will let you know specifically when you can return to eating harder foods based on the extent of your tooth extraction surgery and how you're recovering. Some of the best soft foods that dentists often recommend eating after surgery include:

  • Yogurt
  • Pasta
  • Soups
  • Ice cream
  • Smoothies
  • Applesauce 

Avoid Dry Socket

A painful condition known as dry socket can sometimes develop after a tooth is pulled and happens when a blood clot doesn't form, the clot dislodges or the clot dissolves prematurely. Without a blood clot in place, the bone and nerve endings in the socket where the tooth was pulled will be exposed, and this will likely result in a lot of extra pain. Smoking or sucking through a straw may cause dry sockets, and you might also experience the condition if you don't use your gauze properly or if you engage in strenuous physical activities too soon after surgery.

Tooth extraction surgery doesn't always have to be such a complicated process. You'll likely progress through your surgery and recovery period easier if you stay informed and give yourself the proper care.  

For more information about tooth extraction surgery, contact a local dentist. 

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30 March 2022