Recovering From A Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction is a standard procedure you’ll likely experience as you age. Different factors such as severe decay or permanent tooth damage can lead to removal of your teeth. In some cases, there are other ways to save your teeth without the need to remove them.

However, if you can’t avoid tooth extraction, you must know how to ensure that your recovery has minimal risks. Read on to know how long it takes to recover and potential risk factors to be aware of.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Tooth Extraction?

It depends. In some cases, the recovery is based on why the tooth extraction is necessary. Let’s say your tooth is badly damaged by infection and decay; your recovery might be longer.

A typical and easy extraction of a small tooth takes seven days to heal. However, complicated tooth extraction can take four weeks and even months for the gum tissue and nerves to recover fully. When your tooth is pulled from its socket, it leaves a hole where your tooth used to be.

Different factors influence how long it takes to recover from your tooth extraction. For example, the size of your tooth and the type of procedure you undergo can shorten or lengthen your recovery period. The good news is that the healing starts immediately after your procedure.

Dos and Don’ts after a Tooth Extraction

Ensure you keep a gauze pad in the new hole for at least an hour after your surgery.
Ask your dentist about the medication you can take.
Rest as much as possible to give your body enough energy to heal faster.
After a day, rinse the area with warm salt water.
Reduce your swelling with an ice pack.

Don’t drink alcohol or use any products with alcohol within the first 24 hours after your extraction.
Avoid any activity that can cause sudden blood flow to your affected area.
Don’t drink extremely hot or cold drinks within the first week after your procedure.
Avoid smoking, using straws, and spitting for the first few days.
Don’t eat anything that can get stuck in the hole until it’s completely healed.

How Long Does the Pain Last After a Tooth Extraction?

There are various reasons why your pain lasts longer than someone else’s after a tooth extraction. Ideally, you want to recover as soon as possible. Yet, it all depends on your procedure type and how badly damaged your tooth and gum area are.

Other factors determining how long the pain lasts include, but are not limited to, the type of tooth removed, how much damage your nerves suffered and how fast your body heals. Generally, the pain gets better by the second week after your extraction. But you must still be careful since the gums and nerves take the longest to heal completely.

Risk Factors During Your Tooth Extraction Healing

You’d be surprised to find that there are mild to severe risk factors that are associated with healing from your tooth extraction. For instance, you are likely to experience pain after the procedure. While pain is expected, the following risk factors require medical attention immediately.

Dry Socket: When you don’t protect the socket with a gauze pad for the specified period provided by your dentist.

Improper Teeth Alignment: Your teeth will shift to cover the new gap from the extraction, causing a misalignment on your upper or lower jaw.

Nerve Injury: This risk is rare and has the most severe consequences. If your dental surgeon damages your nerves, you can experience permanent damage and numbness.

Osteoradionecrosis: In other cases, your bone structure and blood vessels are damaged by radiation. As a result, it’s impossible to get dental implants to fix the affected area.

Maxillary Sinus Exposure: If you remove your upper back teeth (molars), you risk exposing your sinuses. It’s crucial to repair this immediately.

How Can You Make Your Tooth Extraction Heal Faster?

Take it Easy and Rest

You might not know that resting when you’re feeling down helps you recover fast. Consider taking a day or two away from work. If you enjoy going to the gym, you must take time off since the exercises you do increase your blood flow to your wounded socket.

Don’t Touch Your Socket

Once you’ve removed the gauze pad, you’ll notice that your mouth feels strange. Ensure you don’t touch your wound with your fingers or tongue. You risk delaying your healing and infecting the area.

Use Prescribed Medication

It’s crucial to listen to your dentist. Ensure you get the correct medication to help ease your pain. Avoid pain medication, such as Aspirin that can act as blood thinners and delay healing.

Avoid Smoking and Drinking

Did you know that cigarette chemicals affect your healing after a tooth extraction? Your dentist should advise you to take a break from smoking and consuming alcohol for at least three days after your procedure. Drinking and smoking can cause more bleeding and severe complications such as wound inflammation.

In summary, if you want your tooth extraction to heal faster, you must care for your wound. Ensure that you follow your dentist’s instructions carefully. Most importantly, if you notice a delay in healing, you should contact your dentist immediately.

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