Take it easy for the rest of the day .Take as little exercise as you can .keep your head up to avoid any bleeding

WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE?

You need to avoid hot food or drinks until the anaesthetics wears off. This is important as you cannot feel pain properly and may burn or scald your mouth. Also be careful not chew your cheeks. This is quite a common problem which can happen when there is no feeling. If you need rest, if possible try to place your head higher for the first night using an extra pillow

SHOULD I RINSE MY MOUTH OUT?

Do not be tempted to rinse the mouth for the first 24 hours after extraction. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood cloth by eating on that side or by letting your tongue touch it. This can allow infection into the socket and affect healing.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD?

Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing. Eat and drink lukewarm food as normal but avoid chewing at that area of your mouth

WHEN SHOULD I BRUSH?

It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your mouth clean after extraction. However, you do need to be careful around the site.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF IT BLEEDS?

Note that there may be some mild bleeding for the first 24 hours. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding, this is due to the fact that a small amount of blood is mixed with large amount of saliva which looks more dramatic than it is. Should you notice any bleeding, do not rinse out at all but gently apply pressure to the extraction site. Bite firmly on a folded piece of dampened cotton material such as handkerchief for at least 15mins. Make sure this is placed directly on the extraction site and that the pad is replaced if necessary. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after one or two hours, then contact your dentist.

HOW SOON CAN I HAVE A CIGARETTE  ?

It is important not to do anything that will increase your bold pressure, as this can lead to further bleeding. We recommend that you avoid smoking for as much as you can after an extraction but this should be at least for a week

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP MY MOUTH?

Different people heal at different speeds after extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and extraction site as clean as possible, making sure the socket is kept clear of all food and debris, don’t rinse for the first 24 hours and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this use a salt-water mouthwash which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around this socket eight (8) times daily can help to clean and heal the site. Keep this up for a week or as long as the dentist tells you. It is important to keep to healthy diet and take a vitamin C supplement.

I AM IN PAIN, WHAT SHOULD I TAKE?

There will surely be some tenderness in the area for the first few days and in most cases some simple relief tablets is enough to ease the discomfort. What you would normally take for a mild headache should be enough. However, always follow the manufacturer’s instruction and if in doubt check with your doctor first. Do not take aspirin as this may make your mouth bleed

ARE THERE ANY MEDICINE I SHOULD AVOID?

Do not to use anything containing aspirin as this can cause further bleeding. This is because aspirin can thin the blood slightly. Asthma surfers should avoid ibuprofen-based pain relief totally. Again check with your dentist if you are worried or feel you need something stronger.

I AM STILL IN PAIN WHAT COULD IT BE?

Sometimes the socket may be infected, this can be very painful. This is when there is little or no blood cloth on the tooth socket and the bony socket walls re-exposed and become infected. This is called dry socket and in some cases it is worse than original toothache. In this case it is important to see your dentist who may place a dressing in the socket and prescribe a course of antibiotics to curb the infection. You may also feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and sometimes small pieces of bones may work their way to the surface of the socket. This is perfectly normal

WILL MY DENTIST NEED TO SEE ME AGAIN?

Yes, , the dentist will give you a week follow-up appointment. This could be to remove any stiches that were needed or simply to check the area if it is healing well. If it has been a particularly difficult extraction your appointment could come earlier.