Tooth Extraction

Instructions after the tooth extraction :

• The anaesthetic typically leaves your lips, teeth and tongue feeling numb after the appointment. For this reason, you should avoid chewing for two hours following surgery, or until the numbness has completely worn off.


• Some discomfort after the extraction is normal. An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (not aspirin), is usually sufficient. We can also give you a prescription for a stronger pain reliever, if needed.


• To avoid nausea, do not take pain medication on an empty stomach.


• You can also decrease pain and swelling by applying an ice pack – 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off – for the first six hours following the extraction.


• A blood clot will form on the extraction site, and this clot is vital to the healing process. To keep the clot intact, avoid touching the extraction site with your tongue or fingers, do not drink liquids through a straw, and do not spit vigorously.


• Blowing your nose or sneezing violently can also dislodge the blood clot and impair healing, so if you have an upper respiratory infection or suffer from allergies, be sure to have the appropriate sinus medication on hand.


• Do not rinse your mouth for 48 hours.


• Smoking, or allowing food particles to pack into the tooth’s socket, should be avoided, as both will significantly affect the healing process.


• 24 hours following the procedure, you should rinse gently with a warm salt water solution (dissolve one teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water); gently swish the solution around the affected area, and spit carefully. You should do this 2-3 times each day for the week following the extraction.


• If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.