0151 673 1230
Book here
MTR logo

POST EXTRACTION
INSTRUCTIONS

here at Merseyside Tooth Removal

The anaesthetic will wear off in a few hours and sensation will begin to return. Take care to avoid biting your lips/cheek/tongue.

Avoid

  • Hot drinks and chewing food until sensation has fully returned
  • Vigorous exercise, smoking and alcohol for 24 hours after the procedure.

Oral Hygiene

  • Keep your teeth clean with gentle tooth brushing if possible.

Diet

  • Avoid hard, chewy foods.
  • Stick to a softer diet for a few days following your extraction.

The day after your extraction

  • Use a hot salt-water mouth rinse (1tsp of salt in warm water).
  • Take a mouthful and hold it still for a couple of minutes before spitting out.
  • Repeat 4 times daily for at least a week to help healing.

Corsodyl (chlorhexidine) mouthwash will help reduce plaque if tooth brushing is difficult.

Bleeding

  • Blood stained saliva is normal for the first 1-2 days following extraction.
  • Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours following extraction as this may disturb the blood clot and cause bleeding.
  • If persistent bleeding occurs, roll up a piece of gauze and place it over the wound and bite firmly for at least 20 minutes without taking it out.
  • If bleeding continues after this – please contact the surgery on 0151 673 1230.

Pain Relief

  • Hot drinks and chewing food until sensation has fully returned
  • Vigorous exercise, smoking and alcohol for 24 hours after the procedure.
  • The local anaesthestic used means that there should be no pain straight after having your tooth out.
  • Discomfort is normal following tooth removal and tends to be worse on the 2nd or 3rd day but gradually improves over a period of 7-10 days. ·
  • Simple painkillers such as Paracetamol & Ibuprofen (if you are able to take these) should control the pain. Avoid aspirin.

Stitches

  • If you have had stitches placed during your procedure – these will dissolve on their own over 7-14 days. You do not need to return to have them removed.

Swelling

  • It is not unusual to have swelling after having a tooth removed and should reach its maximum 2-3 days after the procedure.
    Any swelling should resolve by 10 days and bruising by 14 days after the procedure.

It is vitally important to follow the instructions above.
Failure to do so can result in a very painful infection called ‘dry socket’ which will need to be treated in surgery.