Tooth extraction - what to do, how much gum hurts, how to remove swelling?
Popular questions about tooth extraction:
- Possible consequences and complications of tooth extraction
- What should not be done after tooth extraction?
- What to do after tooth extraction?
- What to do if the gum hurts after tooth extraction?
- How long does the gum and socket heal after tooth extraction?
- How long does the swelling last after tooth extraction?
- How to stop bleeding after tooth extraction?
- After tooth extraction, the temperature rose, what should I do?
- How long can you eat after tooth extraction?
- Can I rinse my mouth after tooth extraction?
- Do i need to drink antibiotics after tooth extraction?
- How long can you smoke after tooth extraction?
Possible consequences and complications of tooth extraction
Most complications after tooth extraction are associated with infection. Many microorganisms live in the oral cavity, many of them are conditionally pathogenic - that is, under certain conditions they can provoke an infectious process.
So, if the hole after tooth extraction is deep enough, is not closed by a blood clot and does not heal for a long time, food debris and pathogenic microorganisms can accumulate in it, which provokes wound suppuration and inflammation:
- Alveolitis is an inflammatory process in the hole, which usually manifests itself on the third day after surgery and is characterized by severe pain, bad breath. The wound healing process slows down, which can lead to a number of other complications; (read also: Alveolitis - causes, symptoms, complications, treatment)
- With a long non-healing wound after tooth extraction, in the area of which purulent-inflammatory processes are observed, the risk of osteomyelitis of the jaw increases;
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If the infection has affected the wound after the removal of the lower wisdom tooth, the risk of complications and serious consequences increases several times, since the soft tissues in this area have an intensive blood supply. The infectious process, which can occur after an incorrectly performed operation or if the rules of the rehabilitation period are not followed, spreads deep into the tissues. This creates the prerequisites for such serious complications as abscess, phlegmon or even sepsis, in which pathogenic microorganisms enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs. Sepsis can lead to disruption of the whole body and even death.
The infection can get into the wound directly during the operation with insufficient sterility of the conditions, or develop after it if the patient ignores the rules of hygiene and wound care during the rehabilitation period.
After the operation, after the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to install the implant in the place of the extracted tooth, otherwise a number of other unpleasant consequences develop. Firstly, the chewing function is impaired, the load is unevenly distributed on the remaining teeth, which leads to their rapid deterioration and entails a number of dental problems in the future. If food is not chewed thoroughly enough, problems with the digestive system can arise.
The absence of a tooth can lead to distortion of facial features, the appearance of early wrinkles, atrophic changes in the jaw tissue. That is why the installation of the implant should be carried out as early as possible, especially since the engraftment process immediately after tooth extraction is faster.
Signs of complications after tooth extraction:
- Steady temperature rise up to 38 ° C and more;
- Swelling that does not subside for several days; the swelling is so large that it interferes with swallowing and opening the mouth; (read also: Swelling after wisdom tooth extraction)
- Severe pain in the area of the extracted tooth that lasts for several days and does not improve after taking pain relievers;
- The bleeding does not stop for more than 12 hours, while the blood comes out in large quantities and has a bright scarlet color;
- Numbness in one or both jaws that does not go away for more than two days from the time the anesthetic was applied during the operation.
If you have any of these signs, you should consult a doctor, as they indicate the development of an infectious process.
What should not be done after tooth extraction?
- Do not immediately throw away the gauze tampon that the doctor installed on the wound - it helps to stop bleeding and the formation of a blood clot. It is kept for half an hour or even an hour in case of problems with blood coagulation;
- Do not rinse immediately after surgery and on the first day. Instead, they use baths from a soda solution (the liquid is kept in the mouth for a minute and carefully spit out so as not to create negative pressure and unnecessary mechanical stress);
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You can not drink or eat for at least three hours after the operation, and possibly longer. This period depends on the rate of formation of a blood clot, which closes the hole and does not allow food debris to accumulate in it. The diet should not include foods that cause irritation - spicy and stinging, sour or too hot. It is also better to refuse sweet and overly salty foods at this time;
- In the first few days after the tooth extraction operation, the patient is not allowed to use thermal procedures such as a sauna, hot tub, bath or solarium. Overheating the body can cause bleeding, causing the blood clot to fall out and the healing process is delayed;
- Avoid heating the surgical site and the face in its area, as this can stimulate the inflammatory process;
- You need to brush your teeth after tooth extraction very carefully, trying not to touch the area of the extracted tooth, use a minimum of toothpaste or do without it;
- Eliminate any mechanical impact on the affected area. This is especially true of attempts to touch the wound with the tongue or fingers, which patients often do. Any manipulations with the wound are carried out by the attending physician or on his recommendation. Self-medication and self-diagnosis during this period will only aggravate the state of affairs, even if something is really wrong with the wound;
- Until the wound heals completely, do not chew gum and eat sucking candy. The chewing load creates unnecessary mechanical irritation, there is a risk of disrupting the healing process. When sucking lollipops, negative pressure occurs in the oral cavity, which provokes the displacement of the blood clot;
- It is not recommended to go in for sports after the operation; it is better to refrain from strenuous physical activity for several days. Avoid any tension, as they can increase blood circulation, increase pressure, which provokes bleeding from the wound;
- It is not recommended to use the irrigator for at least three days after surgery.
What to do after tooth extraction?
- If the gum swells a lot after the operation, then you can apply a cold compress on the cheek at the site of the swelling, keeping it for 10-15 minutes;
- To relieve pain after tooth extraction, you can take pain relievers that the doctor prescribed, avoiding drugs that affect blood clotting like aspirin;
- If the extraction of a tooth was carried out in a woman during lactation, breastfeeding is allowed, since anesthetic drugs will not affect the child's body.
- To relieve inflammation and reduce pain, you can do herbal baths, holding the broth in your mouth for several minutes;
- If you are at increased risk of infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Nursing mothers need to warn a specialist about their condition and choose drugs that are safe for the baby;
- Hygiene procedures are performed with warm water to avoid overheating and bleeding. Washing the head is also allowed, but at the same time it must not be lowered to avoid blood flow to the head;
- Coffee and tea can only be drunk chilled no earlier than three hours after the operation. Beverages other than alcohol are also permitted, but cannot be drunk through a straw. Of the permitted food products during the rehabilitation period - vegetable and fruit purees, fermented milk products, you can eat ice cream. Avoid solid food, as chewing it can mechanically injure the damaged gum;
- Air travel after tooth extraction is allowed if the journey takes a little time. You should take a sterile cotton swab with you on the flight in case of sudden bleeding. If stitches were applied during the operation, then you can fly on an airplane only before they dissolve.
What to do if the gum hurts after tooth extraction?
Pain in the gums at the site of the extracted tooth is a normal phenomenon after the operation; it begins two to three hours after the end of the action of the anesthetic and may appear for another 2-3 days with varying intensity. In addition to pain, the norm is edema and swelling of soft tissues, difficulty in swallowing. After the removal of wisdom teeth, it can be difficult to open the mouth for some time, a hematoma may occur at the site of surgery, which is often observed in patients with high blood pressure. These are all signs of post-traumatic inflammation.
The swelling can go to the chewing muscles - this complication usually goes away on its own, but if there is no improvement after four days, you need to see a doctor.
Pain syndrome can be relieved with pain relievers prescribed by the attending physician. It is forbidden to use drugs that affect blood clotting. If the pills do not help, and the pain does not stop for several days, you need to see a specialist.
How much does the gum hurt after tooth extraction?
Painful sensations can last from several hours to several days after the operation. In the case of their intensity and duration, the doctor may prescribe pain relievers, the intake of which begins one and a half hours after tooth extraction and continues at intervals of six hours.
What to do if the gums are swollen after tooth extraction?
Swelling of the gums after surgery is a typical post-traumatic phenomenon, a local inflammatory process that develops with mechanical tissue damage.
Edema can go to the chewing muscles - this complication usually goes away on its own, but if there is no improvement after 4 days, you should consult a doctor.
How long does the gum and socket heal after tooth extraction?
The socket at the site of the extracted tooth brings discomfort during the healing process - food debris can get into it, it can bleed and hurt. Moreover, it is necessary to carefully monitor her condition, observing all the rules of hygiene and care in order to avoid suppuration and inflammatory processes, alveolitis.
Immediately after tooth extraction, a blood clot forms in its place, which plays an important role in the wound healing process. It blocks access to bacteria and prevents food particles from clogging up in the hole. That is why picking the wound with your fingers, a toothpick, tongue is strictly contraindicated so as not to dislodge the blood clot, as this threatens with complications in the form of a dry hole or alveolitis.
Gradually, as it heals, the blood clot is replaced by granulation tissue, which in turn is replaced by the osteoid tissue. Thus, in the place where the tooth used to be, new bone tissues are formed, over which the gums are located.
At the first stage of tissue repair, the circular ligament surrounding the tooth is pulled together, bringing the edges of the gums closer to each other. This process is also called secondary intention, and its success largely depends on the quality of the operation. If during tooth extraction the surrounding tissues were severely damaged and crushed, the wound heals for a long time and is problematic.
So, normally, the edges of the gums converge after about 2-3 weeks, and with a traumatic operation, this process is delayed for a month or two. Moreover, in case of complications, the complete healing process takes from four months to six months.
How long does the swelling last after tooth extraction?
A slight swelling after tooth extraction is normal, since surgery causes a local inflammatory process, and swelling and redness of the tissues are its signs. Local inflammation appears when the integrity of the gums is violated, without which it is impossible to remove a tooth. The danger is a situation in which the edema does not subside in a week, but gradually increases, affecting the cheek and chin area.
With a normally performed operation without complications, the edema lasts no more than 4 days, completely disappears after a week. If there is no improvement, you should contact a specialist.
However, if the edema after tooth extraction does not decrease or, on the contrary, increases, passing to the cheek or chin, then you should definitely consult a doctor, as this may indicate the development of infectious and inflammatory complications.
How to remove swelling after tooth extraction?
A slight swelling of the cheek at the site of the projection of the extracted tooth occurs in many patients and does not pose a threat to health. However, it is very important to independently control the size of the edema and record the slightest changes. Usually, the edema subsides one day after the operation and does not require additional measures to eliminate it. In order to prevent complications, you can take photographs of the face several times a day in order to compare the magnitude of the edema and the dynamics of the process over time, as well as measure the temperature every two to three hours. Swelling and a slight increase in temperature in the range of 37-37.5 ° C are permissible, if the edema and temperature increase and do not decrease for several days, you should consult a doctor.
For prophylactic purposes, as well as to relieve existing puffiness, it is recommended to make cold compresses. Cold exposure to the area with swelling is carried out with an ice heater, a wet towel or a bottle filled with cold water. The exposure time is 5-10 minutes, at intervals of at least five minutes.
How to stop bleeding after tooth extraction?
Home methods of stopping bleeding are used in uncomplicated cases, the help of a specialist is sometimes necessary, since if the blood goes too much and does not stop, then the reason for this is a postoperative complication or taking specific medications.
- The first way to stop bleeding from the hole at home is to firmly press a gauze swab, which is made from a sterile bandage or napkin, to the affected area. The hemostatic effect of this action is not in the absorbent action of the tampon, but in compression, that is, pressing the edges of the gums. The tampon should be pressed as hard as possible, being careful not to injure the tissue;
- The next method involves the use of a gauze pad and 3% hydrogen peroxide. The compression effect is complemented by the action of peroxide, which accelerates blood clotting. A napkin or tampon soaked in hydrogen peroxide is pressed with teeth for 2-3 minutes, after which it is carefully removed;
- If the previous methods proved to be ineffective, you can purchase a hemostatic sponge at the pharmacy and use tweezers and a gauze swab to place it deep into the wound. With its help, it is possible to temporarily stop the bleeding. But usually, if a gauze pad and peroxide are not enough to stop bleeding, the help of a specialist is needed, and a hemostatic sponge helps to reduce blood loss for a while until medical attention is received.
Since one of the causes of increased bleeding from the hole is high blood pressure, the solution to the problem in some cases may be taking drugs for arterial hypertension.
How long does it take to bleed after tooth extraction?
Bleeding of varying intensity during the first hours after tooth extraction is observed in all patients; impurities of blood in saliva may remain for several more days. Bleeding occurs longer in patients who have taken aspirin or blood thinning drugs the day before, as well as in people with hypertension. If the blood goes for a long and intensively longer than a day, medical attention is needed.
What to do if blood does not stop after tooth extraction?
Bleeding after tooth extraction is a common occurrence caused by tissue trauma during surgery. The danger is prolonged and intense bleeding, which can occur when large vessels are damaged. This often happens during tooth extraction surgery, during which an incision was made in the gums or working with a drill.
It happens that immediately after the operation, bleeding is not observed, blood from the wound appears only after a few hours. This is due to the presence of adrenaline in the anesthetic, which causes a short-term spasm of the blood vessels. If a large vessel is damaged, this situation poses a serious threat to health, since patients go to the doctor too late. With non-stop bleeding, urgent medical attention is needed - the doctor applies a hemostatic sponge and connects the edges of the gums with sutures. In case of severe bleeding, especially if symptoms of dizziness and weakness are observed, it is necessary to contact a 24-hour dentistry or call an ambulance.
At home, you can try to stop the bleeding with a tightly applied sterile gauze pad. It is recommended to apply cold compresses for five minutes several times with an interval of three to four minutes on the cheek at the site of the injured gum projection. (read also: How to stop bleeding gums?)
After tooth extraction, the temperature rose, what should I do?
A slight increase in temperature in the evening for several days after the operation is also normal, the body's reaction to post-traumatic inflammation. If the temperature rises to 38 ° C and above, while being held at these rates for a long time, a doctor's consultation is necessary.
More: how to bring down the temperature of an adult?
How long can you eat after tooth extraction?
You cannot eat immediately after the operation, as this can prevent the formation of a blood clot, provoke bleeding and infectious complications. You can eat food at least three hours after tooth extraction. The same goes for liquid. But if you are very thirsty, you can drink a little warm one hour after the operation.
The diet in the postoperative period should be changed, products that provoke irritation are removed from it - sour, spicy, salty and sweet. You can eat warm, but not hot food, drink chilled tea and coffee. Solid foods that need to be thoroughly chewed are excluded from the menu in order to prevent mechanical damage to the gums and bleeding. Do not rinse your mouth after eating.
Can I rinse my mouth after tooth extraction?
Rinsing in the usual form after tooth extraction surgery is prohibited, as they can provoke a displacement of the blood clot. They need to be carried out in a gentle mode, without intensive muscle movements: take the medicinal solution into your mouth and hold it there for 1-2 minutes, then gently spit it out. Baths for the area of the gums injured during the operation are carried out using herbal decoctions, soda and antiseptic preparations.
How to rinse your mouth after tooth extraction?
To alleviate pain and inflammation in uncomplicated cases, use herbal decoctions of chamomile, calendula, sage or eucalyptus. In the presence of purulent lesions of the gums, salt baths with soda help. Antiseptic mouth rinses after tooth extraction are prescribed for concomitant diseases - periodontitis, gingivitis and carious lesions of the teeth, in order to prevent pathogenic microflora from entering the hole. Antiseptics are necessary if the gum was cut to remove the flux, the inflammatory process began even before the operation.
Popular antiseptic agents that are used for baths are Chlorhexidine at a concentration of 0.05%, Miramistin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or furacilin. The rinsing procedure with antiseptics is carried out three times a day.
Do i need to drink antibiotics after tooth extraction?
Taking antibiotics is always associated with some risks, since drugs in this group have many contraindications. Therefore, their use is not a mandatory measure after tooth extraction, but is prescribed according to indications. So, the basis for taking antibacterial drugs can be inflammatory processes that arose long before the operation, dental diseases (periodontitis, gingivitis, flux), the formation of abscesses on the gums.
To reduce the risk of infectious complications, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics after complex operations to remove teeth, which were carried out with an incision of the gums and traumatization of periodontal tissues, operations to remove a wisdom tooth.
Antibiotics should be taken by people with weak immune systems, serious blood diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Antibiotics prevent the development of inflammatory processes due to the introduction of pathogenic microflora into the hole and normalize the healing process.
With weak immunity, after tooth extraction, chronic diseases can worsen, herpetic eruptions, colds appear. In such cases, it is advisable to take immunomodulatory agents and vitamin complexes recommended by a doctor.
What antibiotics to drink?
Antibiotics given after tooth extraction come in the form of rinses, tablets, ointments, drops, and injections. They are prescribed by the attending physician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and contraindications to a particular drug.
Below is a list of popular medicines in this group:
- Tsifran - this drug is prescribed in the presence of dental pathologies such as periodontitis, gingivitis, carious lesions, prevents the development of infectious and inflammatory processes;
- Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug that is safe for use in children and women during pregnancy;
- Flemoxin is another broad-spectrum antibiotic of penicillin, which allows to prevent inflammation, fever and suppuration of the hole, is taken only as directed by a doctor;
- Amoxiclav is a combined preparation suitable for patients of any age group;
- Lincomycin is used for concomitant dental diseases, there are contraindications for admission for renal failure, liver disease, as well as for pregnant and lactating mothers.
How long can you smoke after tooth extraction?
You can smoke no earlier than two hours after the operation, and then only if the bleeding has stopped. Smoking creates a vacuum in the mouth, which can displace the blood clot that forms in the wound. In this case, the healing process slows down very much, the risks of complications and the development of infection increase.
The optimal time for which you should refrain from smoking during a normally performed operation is two days, giving up the bad habit for ten days, you facilitate the rehabilitation period after the operation. With continuous bleeding from the wound, smoking is contraindicated - under the influence of smoke and the substances it contains, the risk of formation of a dry hole increases, which leads to infectious processes and inflammation. You must refrain from cigarettes for at least ten days. The same smoking-free period should be observed for patients who have had stitches on their gums during surgery.
The author of the article: Muravitsky Boris Viktorovich, dentist, especially for the website ayzdorov.ru
