Top 5 Tips to Care for the Mouth After a Tooth Extraction 

Las Cruces Dental Associates, PC in Las Cruces, New Mexico, tries everything possible to preserve your natural teeth. However, when you have a crowded, impacted, or non-restorable tooth, Drs. Jaime R. Gonzalez, Faith Annelies Cortez, and Mario Samaniego will recommend tooth removal. Although they sound scary, modern dental extractions are more comfortable and predictable than ever. What’s more, recovering from a dental extraction is much easier than what many people expect. 

Tips for recovering from a dental extraction

So, you’ve just had a dental extraction. Whether it was a stubborn wisdom tooth or a problematic molar, your mouth needs a little TLC to heal faster and prevent complications. This guide covers everything you need to know about tooth extraction aftercare. 

1. Manage pain, bleeding, and swelling effectively.

Right after your extraction, your dentist will place a gauze pad over the socket and ask you to bite down. Gentle pressure helps control bleeding and kickstarts the clotting process. Keep the gauze in place for at least 30–45 minutes, and if bleeding continues, switch to a fresh piece and repeat.

Mild pain and swelling are expected as you recover. Apply an ice pack to your cheek in 15-minute intervals during the first 24 hours to reduce swelling and numb discomfort. Take prescribed pain medications to manage post-extraction pain. 

2. Maintain good oral hygiene.

Infection is the last thing you’d want after dental extraction. Brush and floss your teeth, but avoid the extraction site. Don’t rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours to allow the blood clot to form. Afterward, you can swish your mouth with warm, salty water to keep your wound clean and infection-free. However, avoid spitting and let the water drool from the mouth into a sink. Also, avoid any alcohol-based mouthwash. 

3. Take enough rest

Rest is one of the best medicines after any form of surgery. Skip the gym, heavy lifting, or anything that raises your heart rate for at least 24–48 hours. Too much activity can disrupt the blood clot and delay healing. When you sleep, keep your head elevated to manage swelling and improve blood circulation. 

4. Watch out for what you eat.

Good nutrition aids with healing, but certain foods can irritate your extraction site. Stick to soft, soothing foods like scrambled eggs, yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce, or smoothies. Refrain from hot, spicy, or crunchy foods to avoid irritating the wound. Keep your mouth hydrated, but avoid straws—they can dislodge the clot!

5. Avoid alcohol and tobacco use.

Tobacco contains harmful ingredients that may slow down healing and increase the risk of infections. Alcohol can also irritate your wound and prolong healing. Avoid these substances for a quick, complication-free recovery. 

Follow these five tips, and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth, stress-free recovery. Don’t hesitate to call your Las Cruces dentist if anything feels off—excessive pain, bleeding, numbness, or a funky taste. Your smile is worth the care!

Dental extractions near me in Las Cruces, NM

Don’t live another day with a painful or infected tooth. Dental extractions in Las Cruces, NM, are effective and painless. Call (575) 339-1838 and schedule an appointment with Las Cruces Dental Associates, PC, for gentle extractions. Relief is much closer than you think!

Share this Article