After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why your dentist will ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 2 to 40 minutes after an extraction. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad on the area and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. It is not uncommon to have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms, it’s important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours. Please do NOT:

• Smoke
• Suck through a straw
• Rinse your mouth vigorously
• Clean the teeth next to the extraction site
• Spit

These activities could dislodge the clot, slow down healing or cause a dry socket. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours.

After the tooth is extracted, you may experience some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) to keep this to a minimum. The swelling will usually start to go down after 48 hours.

Take pain medication as recommended. Don’t take medication on an empty stomach or nausea may result. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as prescribed, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. It is important to:

• Drink lots of clear fluids.
• Eat only soft, nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Try to include soft protein rich foods in your diet.
• Don’t use alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid hot and spicy foods.

You can begin eating normally the next day, or as soon as it is comfortable. Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water three times a day (put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, and then gently rinse). Also, rinse gently after meals. This helps keep food out of the extraction site.

It’s very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. Call your dental office right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication.