Tooth extraction — Kritikos Dental Clinic

Today we removed a tooth. A blood clot forms at the site and is essential for healing — the care over the first few days is about protecting it.

What to do

If we gave you gauze, bite firmly on a piece and change it every 1–1.5 hours, for about 5–6 hours or until the bleeding stops. Spitting a little blood on the first day is normal.
Apply an ice pack to the cheek, in 15-minute intervals, on the first day, to reduce swelling.
Start your painkiller before the numbness wears off completely (dosage below).
On the day of the extraction, do not rinse your mouth at all.
From the next day, use chlorhexidine 0.12% twice a day for about a week: after brushing, hold it in your mouth for ~30 seconds and spit it out — do not rinse with water afterwards, so it stays active.
Eat soft, cool foods and drink plenty of fluids.

On the first day, avoid vigorous rinsing, forceful spitting and drinking through a straw — the suction can dislodge the clot.
Do not smoke for as long as possible — it significantly delays healing.
Avoid alcohol and very hot, spicy or hard foods for the first few days.
Do not disturb the site with your tongue or fingers.
Avoid strenuous physical activity on the first day.

Mild pain and slight swelling or bruising over the first 2–3 days are normal and settle gradually.
For pain: paracetamol (e.g. Depon) 1000 mg, up to four times a day.
If that is not enough, add ibuprofen (Algofren) 600 mg every 8 hours. Combining the two is safe — try to space them out in time as much as you can.
Do not combine ibuprofen with other anti-inflammatories (e.g. Mesulid, Niflamol).
Carry on brushing your other teeth normally, leaving the extraction site alone.

Do not eat or drink anything hot while you are still numb, so you don’t bite or burn your lip, cheek or tongue (take particular care with children).

Bleeding that does not stop with gauze pressure after several hours.
Pain that gets worse after the third day or is not controlled by the painkillers.
Swelling that grows, fever, or an unpleasant taste or smell.