4 Ways to Prepare for Recovery After Tooth Extraction

One of the biggest concerns we hear from patients is that they aren’t sure they will know what to do after their oral surgery procedure.

No one wants to make mistakes in caring for their mouth so we've put together this list of things to have on hand to ensure that your recovery period goes smoothly.

1) STOCK THE RIGHT KIND OF FOOD

For the first day after your procedure, you will be consuming mostly liquids and very soft (mushy) foods (although never through a straw). In the two to three days after your extraction, you will be eating soft foods like Jell-O, yogurt, pudding, soup, and smoothies (again, no straws!). Be sure your home is stocked with plenty to eat so that you don’t have to run to the store or eat something unsafe while you recover.

Happy healthy young woman wearing glasses pouring vegetable smoothies freshly made from assorted vegetable ingredients on her kitchen counter

2) TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDICATION

While we will give you a prescription for pain relief (often a narcotic), most patients are ready for over-the-counter pain relievers after one or two days. Many patients get great relief with over-the-counter Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen). Make sure you have over-the-counter medications at home before your procedure so you are ready.

3) USE ice packs

To control post-surgical swelling, you'll want to use the ice packs we provide on and off every 30 minutes, or as much as possible during the first two days. Many patients prefer to use Cool Jaw post-operative cold gel packs after surgery for the easiest application.

4) ENJOY GREAT ENTERTAINMENT

Plan to relax on the couch for a few days. Load up your streaming service queue so you'll have plenty of interesting things to watch. You might also want to consider reading a good book or magazine.

Woman watching television at home looking very happy

Prepare for your procedure ahead of time so that you can crash for a few days without any concern in the world.

After all, the best way to heal is to rest, and patients who take time to rest after their procedure have fewer complications and return to normal activity quicker.

Learn more about tooth extractions or schedule a consultation with us today!

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