After tooth extraction treatment, a blood clot forms around the affected area as part of the initial steps of recovery. This lays the foundation for your body to heal. The blood clot is incredibly essential to the healing process. The dentist provides a gauze pad for you to bite down on to stem any blood immediately after treatment. This is to ensure a stable blood clot can form.
If you’re unsure when tooth extraction should be administered, read here to find out.
Sometimes, the blood clot can become dislodged forming a dry socket. This is very painful and can slow down the healing process. One vulnerability that can cause the blood clot to dislodge is how you brush your teeth after tooth extraction treatment.
The Five Tips
As part of proper oral hygiene, you should brush your teeth after tooth extraction treatment following these five tips.
- Avoid Brushing Teeth Day After Surgery – It is recommended that you do not brush your teeth the day after extraction treatment. The affected area is still raw and needs time to heal. Brushing teeth straightaway can disrupt the healing process and increase the chances of infection.
- Keep The Mouth Clean – When brushing teeth every morning and at night, it is important you keep the mouth clean for faster healing. This also includes cleaning the tongue. The blood clot is delicate and keeping it clean keeps the chances of bacteria low.
- Use A Soft-Bristle Brush – After tooth extraction treatment, you’ll be required to gently and softly brush around the affected area in circular motions. In particular, it is recommended that you brush your around the blood clot slowly.
- Rinse The Mouth With Saltwater – After you’ve brushed your teeth, consider rinsing the mouth with salt water. This is helpful when the wound is stitched up by the dentist because this keeps any particles away from the blood clot. This reduces chances of the blood clot becoming dislodged. Use about ½ teaspoon of salt in a maximum of 240ml of water.
- Floss Your Teeth After One Week – It is recommended you avoid flossing teeth around the affected area within the week of treatment. Let the blood clot form before returning to flossing around the teeth.
Summary
If you don’t brush your teeth properly, this can reduce the chances of a swift recovery. In turn, this can lead to painful inflammation known as a dry socket (or alveolar osteitis). It is important you ensure that extra precaution is taken when brushing teeth immediately after treatment. You may return to your normal oral hygiene routine at least a week after treatment. It is expected that the blood clot will have formed appropriately by then.
Can You Still Go For Cosmetic Treatments?
A common question is whether, after tooth extraction, you still qualify for cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening. When the extracted area is fully healed, there is no impact on future dentistry treatments. You can still seek to whiten your teeth. Read up on the common teeth whitening treatments you can go for.
If you’re looking to book an appointment with your local dentist, contact us here now and we’d be happy to help.
