After Your Tooth Extraction

Bite firmly on the gauze pad placed over the extraction site. Maintain steady pressure for 30–45 minutes without removing or checking it.

If bleeding continues, replace the pad with fresh gauze and keep steady pressure for another 30 minutes. Call us if it is not slowing.

A little pink saliva can be expected. If bleeding repeatedly fills your mouth, seek urgent care rather than waiting for a callback.

Do not spit forcefully, use a straw, or rinse forcefully. These actions can disturb the clot.

Leave the clot and the extraction site alone. Avoid touching the area with your fingers or tongue.

• The night of your extraction, avoid brushing your teeth
• Do not smoke, vape, or use tobacco during healing. Ask us when it is safe to resume
• Do not drink through a straw, spit forcefully, or rinse aggressively
• Avoid alcohol during early healing and while taking any medication that interacts with it
• Avoid hot foods and drinks. Choose soft, cool foods such as yogurt, applesauce, or cooled scrambled eggs
• Rest and avoid strenuous activity during early healing. Follow the activity restrictions from your visit
• Sleep with your head slightly elevated on an extra pillow to minimize swelling

Some swelling, bruising, and soreness can occur. During the first 24 hours, use a cold pack wrapped in a cloth for 20 minutes at a time, with 20-minute breaks. Ask us about ongoing swelling before adding heat.

Swelling typically peaks around 48–72 hours and then gradually improves.

These are general adult doses unless your dentist or physician directs otherwise. Patients with medical conditions, medication allergies, pregnancy, or other medicines may need a different pain-relief plan. Check with your dentist, physician, or pharmacist before using these doses if any of these apply.

For adults prescribed this regimen, take ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours with food as directed.

If your dentist recommends both medicines, acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg may be taken at the same time as ibuprofen, every 8 hours, for additional relief.

Use doses above package directions only if your dentist or physician specifically instructed you to. Follow your prescription or the package directions for dose limits and how long to use the medicine. Do not take multiple products containing the same active ingredient.

Do not rinse at all on the day of your procedure.

Starting the morning after, rinse gently with warm salt water (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water) after meals and at bedtime. Let the water fall out of your mouth rather than spitting forcefully.

If we prescribed a rinse, use it only as directed.

Brush your other teeth normally, but avoid the extraction site for the first few days.

Stick to soft foods for the first 3–5 days: yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup (lukewarm, not hot), smoothies, eggs, pasta, fish.

Avoid chips, nuts, popcorn, raw vegetables, and other hard or crunchy foods that could disturb the clot or graft.

Avoid seeds, grains, or small food particles that can lodge in the socket.

Drink water regularly. Follow the alcohol precautions above and any additional restrictions we gave you.