Care after Extraction

• As a local anaesthetic has been used, take care not to bite your tongue, lips or cheeks and avoid any hot foods or drinks until the numbness has worn off completely.
• Do not disturb the area for at least 24 hours.

RINSING
It is important to keep the wound clean.

DO NOT RINSE STRAIGHT AWAY, but start 24hours after the extraction, using warm salt water – one teaspoonful of salt in a tumbler of warm water.

Make sure to rinse at least three times a day and definitely after any meals.

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PAIN
If you are in pain take pain relieving tablets e.g. paracetamol in recommended dosage.
If the pain increases during the next few days contact the surgery.



BLEEDING
Avoid hot drinks and alcohol.
Leave the socket alone - bleeding may start again if you disturb the wound.
If bleeding starts again, make a firm pad of a clean handkerchief, place this over the area which is bleeding and bite firmly for twenty minutes without disturbing the pad.
If bleeding continues after this, contact the surgery.



REST
Make sure you take plenty of rest following your extraction.
Avoid exercise for eight hours as this will increase your blood pressure and may cause the socket to bleed.



SMOKING
This will greatly increase the risk of infection in the socket so DO NOT SMOKE.



IMMEDIATE DENTURE
Dentures should be left in for the first 24 hours, then removed and regular hot salt water mouth rinses used.