Dental extractions can be serious, especially if you don't like dental treatment. While extractions are not necessarily painful, they can leave you feeling a bit strange afterward.

If you have experienced dental extractions, it is important that you pay close attention to your dentist's instructions. These are a few things you should pay close attention to.

Keep Gauze Over the Extraction Site

It is important to keep gauze over the extraction site for several hours. Change your gauze if it becomes too bloody, but keep it in place. The gauze is meant to help the blood clot quickly. After a few hours, or when you stop bleeding, you can remove the gauze for good.

Avoid Rinsing

Do not rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash. In fact, it's better that you don't spit for a full day. Spitting and other stressors can cause additional bleeding. This also goes for gargling and swishing liquids around your mouth.

Do Not Use a Straw

Like rinsing and spitting, sipping liquids through a straw can be dangerous for the extraction site. Your mouth needs you to take things easy for a while, and the suction of using a straw is bad new for the newly formed clot.

Do Not Smoke

Smoking promotes slower healing, which makes your mouth much more susceptible to infection. As a result, your dentist may advise you to stop smoking well before you actually have the tooth removed.

Take Medication As Necessary

Don't be afraid to take medication your dentist recommends or prescribes after your extraction. Often, people only need over-the-counter medications to heal in the days after the procedure.

Apply Ice for Numbing

If you do have a lot of pain at the extraction site, you can apply ice to numb the area. It's a good idea to apply ice for short periods of time throughout the day rather than for a long chunk of time.

Prop Your Head Up

When you lie down for the next day, make sure that you keep your head elevated. This will help prevent bleeding, which is important when you want the area to build a solid, healthy clot.

Consult With Your Dentist If You Have Concerns

If you experience issues like nausea, fever, chills, redness, swelling, coughing, or chest pain, consult with a dentist right away. If you think the extraction site may be infected, call a dentist, like Airport Road Dental Associates, immediately for an examination. 

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