After a Tooth Extraction: A Day-by-Day Recovery Guide

Having a tooth removed is common, and most people recover quickly and smoothly. How you care for the area in the first few days makes a real difference. The most important goal is protecting the blood clot that forms in the socket, because it's the foundation for healing. Here's what to expect and what to do.

The first 24 hours

• Bite on gauze. Keep firm, steady pressure on the gauze for 30 to 45 minutes after your visit. Replace it with a fresh piece if bleeding continues. A little oozing for the rest of the day is normal.
• Rest. Take it easy for the rest of the day and keep your head slightly raised, even when you lie down.
• Use cold packs. Hold an ice pack on your cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, to limit swelling.
• Don't rinse, spit or use a straw. Suction and forceful rinsing can dislodge the clot.
• Don't smoke or vape. It slows healing and greatly raises the risk of a dry socket.
• Take medications as directed. Start pain relievers before the numbness wears off if recommended.
• Avoid alcohol, especially if you're taking prescription pain medication.

Days 2 to 3

• Start gentle salt-water rinses. After the first 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) after meals and at bedtime. Let it fall out of your mouth rather than spitting forcefully.
• Switch to warmth if needed. If swelling or stiffness lingers after two days, a warm compress can help.
• Brush carefully. Keep brushing your other teeth, but avoid the extraction site for a few days.
• Swelling and soreness usually peak around the second or third day and then improve.

What to eat

Stick to soft, cool or lukewarm foods for the first few days:

• Yogurt, applesauce and pudding
• Smoothies, eaten with a spoon, not a straw
• Mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and soft pasta
• Lukewarm soup and broth

Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy and sticky foods, and chew on the other side of your mouth. Gradually return to your normal diet as you feel comfortable, usually within a week.

Watch for dry socket

A dry socket happens when the blood clot dissolves or comes loose too early, exposing the bone. It's not common, but it's painful. Signs include:

• Pain that gets worse two to four days after the extraction instead of better
• Pain that spreads toward the ear
• An empty-looking socket or visible bone
• A bad taste or bad breath

Call us if you think you have a dry socket. It's very treatable, and a medicated dressing usually brings quick relief.

When to call us

Contact our office if you have:

• Bleeding that doesn't slow down after an hour of firm pressure
• Pain that's getting worse instead of better after the third day
• Fever, or swelling that increases after the third day
• Numbness that lasts well beyond the day of the procedure

Facial swelling with fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing, needs emergency medical care right away.

Planning what comes next

If the tooth you lost isn't a wisdom tooth, talk with us about replacing it, since gaps can let neighboring teeth shift. Our post comparing implants, bridges and dentures explains the options. Wisdom teeth have their own considerations; see wisdom teeth: do they always need to come out?

We're here if you need us

Learn more about our extractions and oral surgery. If you have questions during recovery, call Zen Family Dental at (703) 385-2772. To schedule a visit, request an appointment online.