Rewinding the Years: Dental Care Tips for Older Adults

A tooth extraction is sometimes the only option to live a pain-free life. This is especially the case when it comes to the wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, extraction causes pain. Here are five tips to speed up the recovery after tooth extraction.

Follow the Aftercare Advice Given

You will always be given some advice for aftercare from your dentist. This will include protecting the socket from dislodged blood clots, preventing the complications of dry socket or infection.  The tips you're given will be specific to any problems your dentist may have encountered during the extraction.

Use Icepacks Against Swelling

One of the most common problems after extraction is swelling of the mouth. Apply icepacks to your mouth, alternating between sides if you have had both sides extracted at the same time. You may need to do this for up to two days, according to Colgate.

The ice can also help to minimize the pain that you feel due to swelling and the healing process. It can also be used with pain medication.

If you had some infection before removal and your dentist recommends warm compresses instead, follow this advice over the icepacks.

Avoid Smoking

If you are a smoker, it's time to give up. This isn't just about your overall health, but about limiting the chance of dry socket. Smoking prevents the body from healing properly, and you're at a higher risk of the blood clotting becoming dislodged. This can lead to the bone and nerves being exposed, leading to pain, bad breath, and infection.

Brush Your Teeth

Don't forgo your oral hygiene due to the tooth extraction. You can even brush your teeth the same night you had the extraction done. Just be extract gentle when brushing near the extraction site. It is normal to see a little bleeding the first night.

Use a saltwater rinse from the following day, if there is little bleeding. Don't rinse vigorously and allow the saltwater to get into the hole in your mouth. This will clean out the area and prevent infection. Do this after all meals to remove any food collecting in it.

Build Up Your Hard Food

Start by drinking plenty of cold or lukewarm fluids once the bleeding stops, but avoid eating for the first few hours. Build up to a regular diet, opting for softer foods first to heal deal with the pain. Avoid nuts, seeds, and fruit that can get caught in the extraction area.

By following the above tips, you'll be able to improve the chance of a full recovery quickly after the tooth extraction. You'll minimize risk of infection and be back to living normally in no time.

For more information, contact Mapletree Family Dentistry or a similar location.