When Can I Start Brushing With Toothpaste After Tooth Extraction?
While saving your natural tooth is always best, tooth extraction is sometimes necessary, especially if the tooth is severely damaged or causing problems. After your tooth extraction, following your dentist’s aftercare instructions is essential to promote a speedy recovery and prevent complications.
Many people are often concerned about when they can resume normal dental hygiene. This guide provides tips on when to start brushing with toothpaste after tooth extraction and other essential tips for proper hygiene.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Toothpaste after Tooth Extraction
A dental extraction involves removing a tooth from its socket, which often causes minor bleeding. The dentists will always give you a gauze pad to bite on to allow a clot to form to control the bleeding. The clot helps protect the underlying bone during the healing process. Unfortunately, certain factors can dislodge the blood clot in the extraction socket, causing more discomfort, swelling, or even a dry socket, which exposes the bone.
Brushing the extraction site with toothpaste increases your risk of dislodging the blood clot, which can significantly delay your healing and cause complications like infections. You should avoid brushing around the socket for at least 24 hours. Other factors that can cause your blood clot to dislodge include:
- Disturbing the extraction site, like touching it with your finger, brush, or tongue
- Spitting or rinsing too vigorously
- Using straws or smoking
- Rinsing with an alcoholic mouthwash
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Taking oral contraceptives
Visit our dental office for tooth extractions in Edison.
When Can You Start Brushing with Toothpaste after Tooth Extraction
Since the extraction socket takes a while to heal, most dental experts recommend avoiding brushing with toothpaste for 3 – 4 days after tooth extraction. After that, you can start brushing again while avoiding the extraction socket.
However, you must keep the extraction site clean during this period to prevent infections and other complications. After 24 hours, you should rinse your mouth with salt water rinses, especially after meals, to keep your mouth clean and prevent infections.
To do this, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water. Take a sip, swish it around the mouth for about 30 seconds, and then gently let the solution out. Avoid vigorous spitting as it can cause the clot to dislodge. You can do these rinses several times a day, especially after meals. Avoid alcoholic mouthwash during this period.
After several days, you can resume brushing your teeth. Ensure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently clean your teeth. Avoid applying too much pressure around the extraction site. If possible, use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste helps remineralize your enamel, strengthens teeth, prevents tooth sensitivity, promotes gum health, and protects teeth against damage and infections. Avoid abrasive oral products like whitening toothpaste.
Tips for proper oral hygiene after tooth extraction
In addition to avoiding brushing the extraction site using toothpaste, below are additional post-operative care tips to promote faster healing and excellent oral health after tooth extraction:
- Rest adequately. It’s essential to take a few days to rest after a tooth extraction, especially if you engage in strenuous activities like heavy lifting. These activities can cause increased pressure around the extraction area, dislodging the clot.
- Keep your head elevated. Keeping your head up when resting helps minimize bleeding and discomfort.
- Avoid hard-bristled and abrasive oral products.
- Avoid rinsing, spitting, or sucking for at least 24 hours after the extraction.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol products.
- Take any medication as prescribed.
- Use a cold compress to manage swelling and pain.
- Eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, avocados, scrambled eggs, soups, and soft vegetables. Avoid hard, hot, acidic, or crunchy foods and beverages, as they can disturb or irritate the extraction site.
- Notify our Edison dentist if you experience severe or persistent pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever.
- Attend all your dentist’s dental visit appointments.
Visit our dental offices in Edison
Do you need more information about tooth extraction treatment and aftercare? Contact KK Dental Edison to schedule your consultation today.