What to Have on Hand for After an Extraction

Having a tooth extracted can be  quite a process. Although we at Cooper Family Dentistry strive to make the procedure go as quickly and easily as possible, we know that you may be feeling a little bit of anxiety. Here are some things you can keep on hand to make the aftercare process go easier.

Coconut Water—Plenty of It

Drinking coconut water helps speed the healing process. It’s even better if it’s cold, as your mouth will appreciate the cool sensation.

Cold or not, coconut water has lots of electrolytes to help keep your blood sugar where it needs to be. Drinking it will keep you hydrated and help replace the food that you won’t be able to eat—you’ll need to avoid solid foods for a few days.

Soft Foods

Your gum tissue will be quite tender, and you won’t feel up to eating crunchy or hard foods. It’s best to stick to soft stuff for a few days. Yogurt, smoothies, soups, and other similar foods. Jello can be a nice treat, as it tastes good, goes down without chewing, and is an easy source of energy.

As you begin to heal, you will experiment with eating more solid foods, but for at least a few days you’ll be eating a lot of very soft foods. So be sure you’re stocked up.

Pillows

To prevent excessive bleeding, you’ll need to sleep with your head elevated. Be sure you have plenty of pillows on hand. You can build yourself a ramp of pillows so you can recline at a 45-degree angle. Doing so will let you get the rest you need while reducing the blood flow to your head.

Chipped Ice

To help keep your mouth moist and cool—which, in turn, helps reduce the bleeding and swelling—try popping a few chips of ice into your mouth. It is important that you don’t suck on them like you would suck on a piece of hard candy—the suction might cause the sutures to pull loose.

Don’t Be Too Anxious: We’ve Got This!

Here at Cooper Family Dentistry, you are in good hands. We have performed countless extractions over the years, and we’re very good at what we do. Don’t be worried: we will do a great job and keep the trauma to a minimum. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to call us.