The Importance of Oral Hygiene After a Tooth Extraction

We may sometimes feel lazy or too tired after coming back from work or school and go straight to bed before brushing our teeth. The same thing can happen when we wake up late and have to rush to beat traffic so we don’t get late for work or school. However, this can become a bad habit and put you at risk of suffering from oral problems. Oral hygiene is essential for achieving optimum oral health and is even more crucial after you’ve undergone tooth removal. In this article, we'll be discussing why oral hygiene is essential, especially after tooth extraction.

What Is Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction is a simple dental operation that involves the removal of a damaged or impacted tooth to alleviate dental pain or prevent the spread of infection. Although it's often done for restorative purposes, your dentist in 77477 may recommend it for cosmetic reasons if you have overcrowding teeth. There are two types of tooth extractions:

Simple Tooth Extraction: it involves manually pulling out a tooth without involving surgery. It only works when the tooth to be extracted is clearly visible and accessible. The tooth is often extracted while whole.

Surgical Tooth Extraction: it's a form of tooth removal that involves surgically removing the tooth. The procedure is done when the tooth to be extracted hasn't fully emerged from its socket, requiring an incision to be made on the gums to access it. The tooth is removed in fragments until no part is left inside.

What to Eat and How to Take Aftercare After Tooth Extraction

You'll be required to follow a dietary plan and aftercare routine to promote healing and minimize discomfort and side effects. Below are dietary and aftercare tips to follow after tooth removal:

Eat Soft Food: only eat soft foods dew days after undergoing tooth removal so you don't bruise the wound. Examples of soft foods you can eat include yogurt, smoothies, soup, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes.

Apply a Cold Compress: your injury will be a bit swollen shortly after tooth removal. Apply a cold compress on your wound through your cheeks to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Don’t Use Straws and Tobacco Products: sucking through a straw can dislodge the blood clot causing the wound to take longer to heal. Smoking tobacco can also impair and slow healing and have other health complications.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene: brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush while avoiding the extraction site. Also, remember to rinse daily with warm salt water to keep the wound clean.

Take Prescribed Medications: your dentist will recommend painkillers and maybe other medication to reduce dental pain and discomfort as your wound is healing. Take medicine as prescribed.

How Oral Hygiene Is Crucial After Tooth Extraction

We advise all our patients to practice good oral hygiene after undergoing tooth extraction in Sugar Land, TX. Here’s why:

Prevents the Spread of Infection

After tooth extraction, a wound is left in the gum, where the tooth used to sit. The tooth socket is left exposed until the blood on the socket clots and the injury fully heals. During the early stage of recovery, food particles and bacteria can find their way into the wound and increase the risk of infection. Brushing and rinsing as per your dentist's instructions will help lower the risk of oral infection and prevent other complications, such as a dry socket.

Protects Adjacent Teeth and Gums

You can get cavities and gingivitis if you stay too long without brushing your teeth. Although it can be uncomfortable to brush your teeth after tooth removal, it's crucial to keep doing so to prevent plaque and bacteria from building up in your mouth. Gently brush your teeth and avoid brushing over the wound so you don't disturb the clotting process.

Alleviate Dental Pain and Discomfort

The tooth removal site will swell a few hours after undergoing tooth extraction. This will be accompanied by dental pain, mild bleeding, and discomfort. Practicing good oral hygiene will get rid of food particles from the tooth extraction site reducing discomfort while eating. On the other hand, rinsing with warm salt water as prescribed by your dentist will clean the wound and promote healing.

Conclusion

Maintaining good oral hygiene after tooth extraction is crucial for preventing complications that may occur from bacteria and plaque accumulation. Rinsing with warm salt water and brushing your teeth daily will reduce the risk of mouth infection and promote fast healing. It would be best if you kept practicing good oral hygiene and going for routine dental checkups even after recovery to reduce chances of getting cavities and gum disease. Visit Fountains Family Dental for dental checkups, cleanings, and treatment of dental and gum problems.