What to Do After a Tooth Extraction: Essential Healing Tips

Take care after a tooth extraction to heal faster and avoid issues like dry socket. Follow key tips for pain relief, hygiene, and what to eat or avoid.

? Post-Extraction Care: What to Do After a Tooth Removal

Getting a tooth extracted can be a nerve-wracking experience, but proper care afterward is just as important as the procedure itself. Post-extraction care helps ensure smooth healing, prevents complications like dry socket or infection, and gets you back to feeling normal faster.

 

Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your mouth after a tooth extraction.

 

✅ Immediate Aftercare: First 24 Hours

1. Control Bleeding

Bite firmly on the gauze pad placed by your dentist for 30–45 minutes.

 

If bleeding continues, replace it with a clean gauze or a damp tea bag. The tannic acid in tea helps with clotting.

 

2. Protect the Blood Clot

Do not rinse, spit, or use a straw for the first 24 hours. Suction can dislodge the clot and lead to dry socket.

 

Avoid smoking or vaping — both delay healing and increase infection risk.

 

3. Manage Pain and Swelling

Take prescribed pain medications or over-the-counter options like ibuprofen as directed.

 

Apply an ice pack on your cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for the first 6–8 hours to reduce swelling.

 

? Diet: What to Eat After a Tooth Extraction

Stick to soft, cool foods: Yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, scrambled eggs, and soup (lukewarm only).

 

Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy, or chewy foods for at least a few days.

 

Drink plenty of water, but skip alcohol and caffeine for 24–48 hours.

 

? Oral Hygiene Tips

Don’t brush near the extraction site on the first day.

 

Starting the next day, gently rinse with a saltwater solution (½ tsp salt in 1 cup warm water) after meals and before bed.

 

Resume brushing and flossing other areas of your mouth normally.