After a tooth comes out: the first day

After an extraction, a blood clot forms in the socket. It is the start of healing, and most of the advice for the first day is about keeping it there.

The first day

• Bite on the gauze for thirty minutes. If it still oozes, a fresh gauze or a damp tea bag, for another thirty.
• No rinsing, no spitting, no straws, no smoking.
• Cool, soft food: yogurt, soup that has cooled, mashed anything. Chew on the other side.
• Keep your head raised on an extra pillow that night.

From the next day

Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals, and brush your other teeth as normal. Soreness usually peaks on day two and eases after that.

Call us if

Bleeding does not stop with firm pressure, pain gets worse after the third day, or you notice swelling that grows or a fever. On the note we give you there is a number for the evening.