• ADVICE AFTER AN EXTRACTION

  • Following these simple instructions will help you to recover quickly from dental extraction or minor oral surgery.

  • After local anaesthesia, your lips tongue cheek will be numb, so be careful not to chew your lip or eat and drink things that may be too hot.

  • You should avoid exercise and rest with your head above the level of your feet, using an extra pillow at night. It might be a good idea to use an old pillowcase in case you bleed.

  • Do not rinse your mouth out for at least 12 hours after the extractions, or you may dislodge the blood clot from the socket, causing pain or further bleeding.

  • Try to use your toothbrush in the normal way to keep your teeth and gums clean.

  • If bleeding does occur, rinse out any clots with warm water, then place a pad made from a clean handkerchief or gauze over the socket (not in the socket), hold it in place and apply pressure by closing your jaws together firmly for half an hour. Make sure the pressure is applied onto the socket and not the adjacent teeth.

  • Take a painkiller, available from your pharmacist; always remember to read the label. Post-operative swelling is to be expected.

  • Contact us if you have persistent bleeding or severe pain uncontrolled by painkillers.