Do not drink anything hot, alcohol or smoke a cigarette for 3-4 hours after the extraction.

Avoid strenuous activity or exercise for the rest of the day.

Do not rinse your mouth out excessively on the same day as the extraction.

Bleeding may restart if the above advise is not adhered to.

You may feel sharp edges in the socket where the tooth has been removed, small fragments of bone may work loose. This is normal. If you have been prescribed antibiotics make sure to finish the course even if the pain and /or swelling has subsided.

Day following extraction
Rinse out your mouth after every meal if possible with warm salty water to keep the wound as clean as possible and encourage rapid healing.

If severe pain begins a day or so following the extraction it probably means that you have a DRY SOCKET.

This is a most painful condition and affects a small proportion of extractions. The main features are delayed healing, severe pain and bad taste from the area. A dry socket lasts less than two weeks, normally 3-5 days. Please contact the practice where we can treat the soreness by applying a dressing to the wound and make it more comfortable.

If excess bleeding occurs
Use cotton wool or a clean white handkerchief to make a firm pad an inch thick. Place the pad into the bleeding socket and bite firm for up to half an hour.
Try and sit up right. Should you lie down this increases the blood supply to the head and encourages bleeding.
If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after 2-3 hours contact the practice where you will get our emergency Out of Hours telephone number.