After tooth removal, you should expect to experience some pain. The good news is that the pain can be well managed with pain medication and should slowly improve each day. In the event your pain does not improve, we encourage you to contact our office right way.
What Causes Pain?
The most obvious and major reason you’ll face pain is the tooth removal itself. Removing a tooth can cause trauma to the tissue and bone and lead to pain as a result. Pain will also occur once your anesthetic wears off. This is because general anesthesia restricts blood flow and once it wears off, the blood flow will gradually return and you’ll start to feel pain. To keep your pain down and feel better, our dentists recommend the following:
Take It Easy: After a tooth removal, you should focus on resting and relaxing. Avoid engaging in intense exercise or physical activity as doing so can only worsen the pain.
Stick to a Soft Diet: Hard foods can worsen the pain. Therefore, you should adhere to a soft food diet and eat foods such as applesauce, jello, soup, yogurt, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes.
Avoid Smoking: Smoking can introduce bacteria into the extraction site and delay healing. If possible, avoid smoking for at least 48 hours after the procedure.
Rinse Gently: To keep the extraction site free of bacteria, gentle rinsing with a prescription mouthwash is a good idea after the first 24 hours.
Contact Costa Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
As stated, pain after general anesthesia wears off is normal and manageable. If your pain worsens or becomes unbearable, it’s important for you to contact our office immediately.