How do you lay down after a tooth extraction?
During the initial stages of healing, the tooth extraction site may ooze. Because of this, sleeping on your side is best, at least for the first night. Plus, if you lie flat on your back, you might experience more swelling. That could increase your pain and make resting an even greater challenge.
Following any type of oral surgery, including a tooth extraction, you should sleep elevated for the first 2-3 nights. This allows your body to drain more of the fluid away from the extraction site. If you were to lie flat on your back, the amount of swelling is much more likely to increase.
You must also keep your head elevated while sleeping on your back after your extraction. The elevation keeps the extraction site level and allows fluid to drain from the area. You will have less of a risk of swelling in the area, plus you will not be likely to experience new bleeding if you keep your head elevated.
Keep Head Elevated & Choose the Right Position
After you get your wisdom teeth pulled, you'll need to keep your head elevated for at least 36 hours at a 45-degree angle, even while you sleep.
(First 24 hours post-op) Avoid eating or drinking for the first hour after your surgery (with the exception of liquids needed as an aid with taking medication). Over the following 24 hours, drink plenty of fluids so you stay properly hydrated.
Oral surgery, no matter if it is surgery for periodontal disease, tooth extractions, or dental implant placement, can leave you feeling uncomfortable for a few days. Getting plenty of rest and sleep is crucial for healing properly following surgery.
You should never sleep with gauze in your mouth because it's a potential choking hazard. It's also critical to take care not to fall asleep when you're lying down with gauze in your mouth, especially if you're taking medications that may cause drowsiness.
- Do Not Use A Straw For 24-48 Hours After Your Surgery. ...
- Avoid Spitting Vigorously After Rinsing For 24-48 Hours After Extraction. ...
- Don't Smoke Or Use Oral Tobacco For 48 Hours. ...
- Do Not Brush The Extraction Site Directly For 3-4 Days.
Keep gauze on the surgical area with some pressure (biting) for 30–45 minutes. Remove the gauze after 30–45 minutes and replace it with a new piece of gauze if you are still bleeding. It is important to make sure the gauze is directly on the surgical site.
For at least 24 hours after your tooth extraction, you should consume only soft foods and liquids. You can ease into a more normal diet when you feel comfortable doing so. Try to stick with easy-to-chew foods for a few days. Initially, choose cool foods like yogurt, pudding, Jell-O, and ice cream.
What should you avoid after tooth extraction?
- Don't drink with a straw. Sucking on a straw may dislodge the blood clot.
- Don't drink hot liquids. Hot liquids may increase swelling. Limit your alcohol use. ...
- Don't smoke. Smoking may break down the blood clot. This can cause a painful tooth socket.
Aside from applying ice packs on your face and cheeks after the surgery, you should also drink ice cold water. Ice does not just reduce swelling, but the coldness is also a great pain reliever, numbing the area of your mouth that is affected.
Rest. It is crucial to get adequate rest after your tooth extraction. Avoid strenuous activity and any tasks that require you to bend over or lift heavy objects because this can increase the blood pressure in your head, leading to bleeding at the surgical site.
Using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek can reduce swelling, speed up healing, and provide some relief from any discomfort. However, if the ice causes any strange itching sensations, or increased pain, then stop using it immediately and consult your dentist if the symptoms continue.
Gauze placed against the wound will draw blood from the clot and this, likewise, is not a sign of bleeding. Place an old towel over your pillow for the first night to reduce risk of staining. If the bleeding persists, contact the office.
Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink. Do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth. Pay special attention to the placement of the gauze , making sure it is over the surgical site and not just between the teeth.
After a tooth extraction, you should develop a blood clot in the socket (hole) that's left behind. It'll look like a dark-colored scab. But if you have a dry socket, the clot will be absent and you'll be able to see bone. For this reason, dry sockets usually appear white.
It can be helpful to drink plenty of water after a tooth extraction. Eating soft foods for the first 24 hours can also reduce the risk of irritating the extraction site. People should avoid alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated drinks. They should also avoid using a straw, as these can dislodge a blood clot in the socket.
- Severe pain within a few days after a tooth extraction.
- Partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site, which you may notice as an empty-looking (dry) socket.
- Visible bone in the socket.
Dry socket may be caused by a range of factors, such as an underlying infection in the mouth, trauma from the tooth extraction or problems with the jawbone. The condition occurs more often with wisdom teeth in the lower jaw than with other teeth. You are also more likely than others to develop dry socket if you: smoke.
Will gauze prevent dry socket?
The American Dental Association recommends you keep gauze over your extraction site for 30 to 45 minutes after surgery. This encourages a blood clot to form and can help prevent dry socket.
Head Elevation Will Help You Heal
You should sleep with your head elevated above your heart the first three days after your oral surgery. If your oral surgeons left gauze pads inside your mouth to help reduce bleeding, you might need to set your alarm every two hours at night.
During the first 24 hours, you should sleep in such a way that your head remains elevated than your heart. It's best not to lie flat as it may trigger swelling. Remember, healing may slow down if you sleep on the operated side due to pressure on the extraction site.
Keep your head elevated while resting or sleeping for 3-5 days after surgery to minimize swelling. Swelling may be worse on your third day after surgery.
You should try taking it easy for at least 1-2 days after the tooth extraction. When you are resting or sleeping, try to lie down so that your head is above your heart. This will lower your blood pressure and help control bleeding.
- Don't drink with a straw. Sucking on a straw may dislodge the blood clot.
- Don't drink hot liquids. Hot liquids may increase swelling. Limit your alcohol use. Excessive use of alcohol may slow healing.
- Don't smoke. Smoking may break down the blood clot. This can cause a painful tooth socket.
In most cases, walking and light physical activity is encouraged after the first day. This will also help with swelling and help get patients back into their normal routines. Depending on the procedure, patients should avoid vigorous physical activity for 3-5 days.
After the procedure, one should expect some discomfort, swelling, sensitivity, or pain. The pain experienced is usually due to the underlying gum inflammation. What is considered “normal” pain is likely to last for about three days post-extraction.